Kyle Edmund, who has played only five matches at tour level, is set to make his Davis Cup debut next week in Britain’s first appearance in the elite World Group for six years. Leon Smith, Britain’s captain, has named 19-year-old Edmund in his team for the first-round tie against the United States in San Diego. Andy Murray, James Ward and Colin Fleming complete the line-up, while Dominic Inglot will be travelling reserve.

Although Ward, the world No 165, has become an experienced Davis Cup campaigner, Edmund may well be given the second singles slot behind Murray. The world No 372, who joined Murray at his Florida “boot camp” last month, has impressed with his attitude and has not looked out of place in the senior ranks. He recorded his only tour-level victory over the Frenchman Kenny De Schepper at Eastbourne last summer.

Dan Evans, who has won important Davis Cup rubbers in the last two years, has been overlooked after returning home to practise in Birmingham following his failure to qualify for the Australian Open. Smith appears to have taken the view that Edmund, who is playing in a Futures clay-court event in Florida this week, will be better prepared than Evans. Next week’s tie will be played on a specially constructed clay court in the Petco Park baseball stadium.

Murray, who plays his Australian Open quarter-final against Roger Federer here tomorrow, looks set to play in two singles rubbers in San Diego and in the doubles alongside Fleming. However, that might depend on how Murray fares over the next few days. Inglot, who lost his men’s doubles quarter-final here today alongside Treat Huey against Eric Butorac and Raven Klaasen, could yet replace Ward or Edmund.