GROUP G:FABIO CAPELLO retains faith in Frank Lampard as a key member of the England set-up despite omitting him for the victory in Bulgaria last week, with the England manager contemplating recalling the midfielder for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales tomorrow.
Lampard’s impact last season was frustrated by a groin injury but the 33-year-old has started only two of England’s six Group G qualifying ties to date and was replaced at half-time in the second of those, against Switzerland in June.
His omission from the team in Sofia last Friday, when he was afforded 10 minutes as a substitute, had suggested his 87-cap career at this level was on the wane. Yet the management are understood to count him as a key performer who, fitness and qualification permitting, will have a major role to play at the tournament next summer. Indeed, there could yet be a swift recall against Wales, with Capello considering a more attacking formation as England attempt to secure a first Wembley win in a year.
Scott Parker and Gareth Barry, the defensive midfielders used in a 4-2-3-1 against Bulgaria, are one booking away from missing the final tie against second-placed Montenegro.
While the system employed by Capello recently has not always easily accommodated Lampard, there had arguably been less reliance placed upon the veteran given the emergence of Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere. Yet the teenager will miss the remainder of England’s Euro 2012 qualification campaign with an ankle problem.
Wilshere endured discomfort in the joint last season and Arsene Wenger suggested the problem was exacerbated after the youngster was kicked on his ankle in the 2-2 draw with Switzerland. He subsequently broke down during a pre-season friendly against New York Red Bulls at the Emirates Cup and is now likely to be absent until November. “It’s massively frustrating, even more so because I had a successful season (last year) and felt I could really push on,” said Wilshere.
Capello, who has released Darren Bent (groin) and Micah Richards (hamstring) to Aston Villa and Manchester City respectively, is expected to keep Wayne Rooney as his only central forward against Wales as he retains doubts over the Liverpool striker Andy Carroll’s match fitness. The €40 million forward is still searching for the form that caught the eye with Newcastle United over the first half of last term.
The England manager has expressed concern in the past at the 22-year-old’s lifestyle, saying in March that Carroll needed “to drink less”. “He is probably not at the top (of his game),” said Capello. “I am choosing players in the best moment of form, but Andy didn’t play the last games with Liverpool. Also, he is big. He needs to play games, games, games at the start of the season (to get into condition).”
The Football Association is still awaiting a response from Uefa after Ashley Young, Ashley Cole and Theo Walcott were racially abused by sections of the Bulgarian crowd at the Vasil Levski stadium. The governing body is expected to respond today.
Wales will head into tomorrow’s game buoyed by Friday’s impressive 2-1 victory over Montenegro – their first points of their Euro 2012 qualification campaign and their first win against a top-20 nation since 2002.
That result left England knowing four points from their final two qualifiers will assure them of a place in next year’s finals.
England have gone four games without a home win – their worst run in almost three decades – but Walcott is upbeat about the prospects of that changing.
“We need to take our away form to Wembley,” he said. “It will come. The pitch is terrific so there’s no real excuses.” He added: “We’ve got great balance in the squad. Everyone is on their toes – there’s so much competition for places.
Guardian Service
