Jack Wilshere makes his first England start since last June when Roy Hodgson's side take on Turkey in a friendly at Manchester City on Sunday.
Arsenal midfielder Wilshere has played only 141 minutes of competitive football this season because of injury problems.
But England coach Hodgson wants to give the 24-year-old the chance to show he is fit enough to stake a claim for a place in his final 23-man squad for Euro 2016.
Wilshere, described by Hodgson as "a special player," last started for England in the win in Slovenia on June 14, 2015.
He suffered a broken leg towards the end of preseason and made his only start of the campaign on its final day as Arsenal thrashed relegated Aston Villa.
Hodgson included him in his provisional 26-man squad for Euro 2016 less than 24 hours after that game and said: "Most of his injuries have been trauma injuries. I am not worried about him.
"Obviously, I think he is a real quality player. I had to ask myself if he is the type of player who brings something different to the team, a player we do not have an abundance of, and the answer was yes.
"He is there on merit -- he is a special player. We don't have lots and lots of Jack Wilsheres available.
"He deserves the chance to show he is fit, and I have got at least a couple of matches when I can test those things out as well as the training sessions."
Wilshere has won 28 caps for England, scoring two goals.