NEWCASTLE Falcons prop Jon Golding has earned a surprise call-up to the senior England squad for this summer’s tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Golding is one of nine uncapped players selected by head coach Martin Johnson for a five-match tour that will be preceded by a game against the Barbarians at Twickenham on May 30.

The 28-year-old has impressed in his 20 first-team outings for Falcons this season and, with England’s front row in a state of flux, will hope to force his way into the starting line-up at loose-head.

“Jon’s call-up is fully deserved given the form he has been in for us this season,” said Falcons head coach Alan Tait.

“He would probably have been in line for some form of international rugby back in February had it not been for an untimely injury, but he’s on the mend now and fully merits his place in Martin Johnson’s squad for the tour.”

Former Falcon Geoff Parling has also received his first senior call up, along with Gloucester lock Dave Attwood, Leeds flanker Hendrie Fourie and Wasps hooker Rob Webber.

Wasps centre Dom Waldouck, an unused tourist with England in 2008, has been rewarded after an outstanding season along with club-mate Joe Simpson.

Dan Ward-Smith and Shontayne Hape, who were both members of England’s senior squad for the Six Nations, will also travel Down Under chasing their first Test caps.

The most notable selection in yesterday’s squad was the recall of Olly Barkley, who won the last of his 23 caps in 2008. The Bath fly-half has been picked by Johnson for the first time after playing an integral role in his side’s march to the Guinness Premiership semi-finals.

England will be without locks Steve Borthwick and Louis Deacon, centre Riki Flutey and scrum-half Paul Hodgson for the five-match trip.

Tom Rees will continue his return from shoulder surgery at the Churchill Cup with the Saxons while veteran prop Phil Vickery has been given the summer off.

Lewis Moody, who replaced Borthwick as captain for the Six Nations game against France, is set to continue in the role.

“Borthwick needs a good off-season and the same applies to Louis Deacon, who will be fit before the end of the season but has had ten years of rugby,” said Johnson.

“Phil Vickery was never seriously considered and we have good options at tighthead with Dan Cole and David Wilson. This is also an opportunity for Paul Doran- Jones to come back in after making his debut in the autumn.”

Two Newcastle players have been named in the England Saxons squad, with Micky Young and Rob Vickers selected for the forthcoming Churchill Cup campaign.

Senior England squad: Backs: D Armitage (London Irish), C Ashton (Northampton), M Banahan (Bath), O Barkley (Bath), D Care (Harlequins), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), T Flood (Leicester), B Foden (Northampton), S Geraghty (Northampton), S Hape (Bath), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), U Monye (Harlequins), J Simpson (Wasps), D Strettle (Harlequins), M Tait (Sale Sharks), M Tindall (Gloucester), D Waldouck (Wasps), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks), J Wilkinson (Toulon), B Youngs (Leicester).

Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), D Attwood (Gloucester), D Cole (Leicester), T Croft (Leicester), P Doran- Jones (Gloucester), N Easter (Harlequins), D Flatman (Bath), H Fourie (Leeds Carnegie), J GOLDING (NEWCASTLE), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), C Lawes (Northampton), L Mears (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), T Palmer (Stade Francais), G Parling (Leicester), T Payne (Wasps), C Robshaw (Harlequins), S Shaw (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Ward-Smith (Wasps), R Webber (Wasps), D Wilson (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps).