Capello wanted a meeting with the Euro 2008 winners to measure how far the Three Lions have progressed as he starts his second year in charge and in an ideal world, would have his first-choice side available to face Fernando Torres and company.

However, Steven Gerrard has already been ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Theo Walcott and Joe Cole are sidelined by shoulder and knee problems respectively, so Capello is without three main men, leaving him to decide whether it is worth taking Rooney on the trip anyway.

The Manchester United striker is expected to return from his own hamstring injury at West Ham on Sunday, 24 hours after Capello names his squad.

However, instead of the starting role Rooney had hoped for, he will be restricted to a substitutes' slot at best as this week's cold snap has restricted United to a lighter training schedule than they might have imagined.

Ferguson intends to speak with Capello to offer an insight into the player's condition.

However, as a sign of the thaw in relations between England and United that, in fairness, began with Steve McClaren and has continued under Capello, a man Ferguson respects enormously, the United boss will let his Italian counterpart make the final decision.

"I hope to speak with Fabio later today to explain the situation," revealed Ferguson.

"Then he can have a dialogue with his physios and ours about whether it is worth taking him to Seville.

"Whether he is able to play in the game at this moment in time or just as a substitute I don't know. In that sense, Fabio is in exactly the same position as I am.

"But it is entirely up to Fabio. I have no strong objections."

As Capello has previously stated he will not pick anyone who has not been playing recently, the odds are on Rooney being left out.

However, the United man is undoubtedly a special case even if the back end of 2008 proved England have more strength in depth than they realised.

Only four members of the team which completed a fourth successive World Cup qualifying victory by beating Belarus in October remained for the excellent friendly triumph over Germany in Berlin a month later. And only two of that quartet - David James and Gareth Barry - were also part of the starting line-up that destroyed Croatia in Zagreb.

The return of Emile Heskey is guaranteed, although Gabriel Agbonlahor, who made such a fine debut in Berlin, will be involved along with Aston Villa team-mate Ashley Young, while skipper John Terry is expected to line-up alongside his deputy Rio Ferdinand in central defence for the first time since the Wembley win over Kazakhstan four games ago.

However, all this will be overshadowed by the inclusion of David Beckham in Capello's squad.

Capello virtually confirmed Beckham's presence at a League Managers Association dinner on Thursday night and even an appearance as a substitute would allow the former England skipper - who is proving such a success at AC Milan - to equal Bobby Moore's record of 108 caps for an outfield player.

For all the criticism Beckham still receives and those who feel there is no comparison between the respective abilities of two men who both led their country with dignity but only one of whom lifted the World Cup, it would be a remarkable achievement considering it is only two years since Capello tried to freeze him out of Real Madrid.

But it is Capello who has been instrumental in the 33-year-old's move to Milan, which will become permanent if Los Angeles Galaxy bow to the player's demands, and clearly sees Beckham as a key part of his squad as he builds towards South Africa 2010.