Soccer: England reported a clean bill of health when they started their preparations on Tuesday for Friday's vital Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro in Podgorica.

All 24 players included in Fabio Capello's squad took part in the morning's initial training session at Arsenal's London Colney headquarters.

Fulham striker Bobby Zamora and Bursaspor goalkeeper Scott Carson were back in the international fold after earning recalls from Capello, but it is the likes of Manchester United duo Danny Welbeck and Phil Jones plus Tottenham's Kyle Walker who will have most to play for in the next few days.

Welbeck is among the candidates to partner his club team-mate Wayne Rooney up front after scoring five goals in six games this season. He missed last month's victories over Bulgaria and Wales with a hamstring injury.

"There is great competition for the striking spots," said Welbeck. "You come here to train with the best players and there is great talent all over the squad - there are great players who are not even here."

Welbeck has been doing plenty of work in the gym to build up his strength, which he noted when he filled out physically at Sunderland.

"I've literally grown into a man," he said. "I have been doing a bit of gym work but it's more based around my legs. My physique is a lot better before I went away. I'm still only 70-odd kilograms and some of the centre-backs are 90, so I need to be strong."

It was assumed Welbeck was going to be part of Capello's starting line-up for last month's trip to Bulgaria before a hamstring strain intervened. However, the striker sees no reason why such an opinion should have changed, especially as he has so much knowledge of Rooney's game.

"I don't see why Rooney and Welbeck can't work together as a pair for England," he said. "We know each other's games and whilst it is early days, because we have been training together for a couple of years now it would work.

"Wazza has certainly been on fire. He has started the season scoring and creating goals and been a great team player as well. To be playing and training with him every day is a bonus. He is a great guy to go to for advice. He talks to you during games and in training. It is really beneficial.

"I have to learn from him and try to pick up as much as I can."

Jones and Walker look to be in contention for the right-back berth in Chris Smalling's absence with a groin injury, after he started in the role against Bulgaria and Wales.

Walker impressed during the summer European Under-21 Championships and netted the winner for Spurs against Arsenal in Sunday's north London derby.

England need only a point in Montenegro to ensure their automatic qualification for next summer's finals in Poland and Ukraine.