England's Hero Honda FIH World Cup squad will play the first of its warm up matches this weekend ahead of the tournament, which gets underway in New Delhi, India on 28 February.
The squad will face Spain in two official matches in Cadiz in southern Spain on Sunday 24 and Tuesday 26 January and includes both Simon Mantell and James Tindall who are recovering from broken foot injuries.
Coach Jason Lee is waiting on the recovery of both forwards having last week named a 17 man squad for the World Cup, the final place having been held open for either Mantell or Tindall on their return to fitness.
Neither player is expected to play a major part in the Spanish matches but both have been included on the trip as part of their rehabilitation.
Eight of the squad will be flying out to Spain on the back of their EuroHockey Indoor Nations Trophy victory in Poznan last weekend. Richard Alexander, Nick Brothers, Jonty Clarke, Adam Dixon, Ashley Jackson, Glenn Kirkham, Richard Mantell and Richard Smith were all part of the squad that won gold in Poland, securing promotion to the top tier of European indoor hockey and with it a place at the 2011 Indoor World Cup, also being held in Poznan next February.
There was further reason for English celebration with Reading goalkeeper Nick Brothers voted Goalkeeper of the Tournament and Ashley Jackson voted Player of the Tournament.
After completing its European preparation in Spain, Lee's squad departs for its pre-World Cup camp in Doha, Qatar on 18 February.
Team England: Richard Alexander, Alastair Brogdon, Nick Brothers, Nick Catlin, Jonty Clarke, Matt Daly, Adam Dixon, James Fair, Ben Hawes, Ashley Jackson, Glenn Kirkham, Iain Mackay, Richard Mantell, Simon Mantell, Barry Middleton, Rob Moore, Richard Smith, James Tindal, Alastair Wilson.
Source: England Hockey
