Rooney, Heskey to lead English forwards against Americans with Green in goal

Onyewu starts for US in central defense

RUSTENBURG, South Africa — U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu is in the starting lineup for the Group C matchup with England.

Onyewu has not played a full 90 minutes since Oct. 10, four days before he tore his left pateller tendon in the Americans’ final World Cup qualifier. He’s played parts of three exhibition games since.

Everton’s Tim Howard starts in goal for the U.S., and Onyewu is paired in central defense with Jay DeMerit.

England is starting goalkeeper Robert Green in a slight surprise, and will have Emile Heskey up front with striker Wayne Rooney.

England coach Fabio Capello refused to disclose his starting goalkeeper for months, but turned to West Ham’s Green for the high-profile opener with the Americans.