LONDON. Dec 11 Les Ferdinand will join Alan '•hearer upfront tor England in Tuesday's exhibition against Portugal at Wembley uni ling the Premier league's lop two scorers on the national side, reports AP

It will be Ferdinands first start for England in two years, his last coming before Terry Venables took over as coach

The Newcastle striker a surprise absence from the club under Venables has scored 20 goals, one fewer than Blackburn's Shearer. Venables has resisted starting two central striker* but seemed to be forced into it when Tottenham forward Teddy Sheringham withdrew with an injury

Shearer hasn t scored in his last nine England games but was impressive In a 3-1 win over Switzerland last month

Venables wasn't expected to name the rest of his starters until Just before the Tuesday game

Portugal have left several regulars off their team, opting for a younger squad. Midfielder Paulinho Santos will miss the match with a ■trained tendon Regular keeper Vitor Bala will also skip the game, as will mid fielder Oceano Cruz and the Portuguese ler.gt.es top scorer Domingos Paciencla

Bui Costr. of Italy s Fiorentina also won't play after the Itaftr.ns declined to release him

Two of Portugal s young forwards to watch will be 19 year-old Dani Carvalho and 21 yea’. old Jose Dominguez both from Sporting Lisbon.