Sturridge has won 15 caps for England Under-21s England boss Fabio Capello has handed first call-ups to midfielder Jack Rodwell and striker Daniel Sturridge.Everton's Rodwell, 20, and Chelsea's Sturridge, 22, are in the squad for the friendlies against Spain and Sweden.
Captain John Terry is in the squad despite being the subject of police and Football Association investigations over an alleged racist remark.
Wayne Rooney has been left out as he is set to miss the Euro 2012 group stage through suspension.
Former captain Rio Ferdinand has been overlooked, while Manchester City defender Micah Richards and Liverpool striker Andy Carroll are also missing from the squad which drew 2-2 in Montenegro last month.
The omission of striker Carroll is not a surprise considering he has struggled for consistency with Liverpool this season. Richards, though, has been in fine form for Manchester City this season.
Richards wrote on Twitter: "Well well well!!!! Disappointed is an understatement!!"
Fulham striker Bobby Zamora and Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker keep their places, and there is a recall for Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor.
Capello defends Rooney decisionAgbonlahor was last capped in a 3-0 win against Belarus in 2009.
Manchester United's Ashley Young is injured but Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott and Liverpool's Glen Johnson return.
Capello's side face world and European champions Spain next Saturday before facing Sweden on Tuesday, 15 November.
Sturridge has performed well for Chelsea this season, scoring five goals, following a successful loan spell at Bolton last season, during which he scored eight goals in 12 matches.
"He's an interesting player and a player who scores goals," said Capello. "I saw him play right wing, left wing and centre forward. He has improved a lot."
Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck is also included in the squad as Capello begins to plan for Rooney's likely absence for the group matches at Euro 2012.
Midfielder Rodwell, 20, has been considered a potential England player for some time but has only this season been able to put the injury problems that have affected his young career behind him.
Everton have made a poor start to the season but Rodwell has impressed, playing 12 times and scoring twice.
England squad to face Spain and Sweden: Joe Hart (Man City), Scott Carson (Bursaspor), David Stockdale (Ipswich); Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man Utd), Gary Cahill (Bolton), John Terry (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham); Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Adam Johnson (Man City), James Milner (Man City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal); Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Bobby Zamora (Fulham), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd).
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