Injury stunts England's progress as friendly match with France approaches
Amid talk that Newcastle Striker Andy Carrol may not be allowed to play the international friendly with France on Wednesday due to a groin injury, fears have surfaced that England may be caught unprepared. Team manager Fabio Capello is keeping West Ham's
Carlton Cole as backup in case Carrol's injuries bar him from participating.
Carrol remained optimistic.
"It's a real honour to be selected for England,” he told reporters. “it obviously shows I am progressing on the pitch and it is fantastic that Mr Capello has given me this opportunity to be involved with the senior England team.”
Carroll told reporters on Saturday that he is pleased to have received his first such call-up, and he has made clear that a senior cap win over France at Wembley would be a turning point in his career.
"If it comes, it will be a great feeling for me - but not just me, it will be for my family as well - but we will see what happens. I will be delighted if I do, but it will not stop me doing my job for Newcastle United," he said.
Carrol has had a great season thus far, scoring seven goals in the Premier League, and now getting his first shot at an international career.
Carrol played in Newcastle’s tie with Fullum Saturday but may still be barred from the game with France if the doctors say that the results of Sunday night’s check-up come out negative.
All of this could result in Cardiff City’s Jay Bothroyd getting the break, and Cardiff boss Dave Jones wants Capello to consider this option seriously.
“We're hoping he starts or he gets some part of the game because we do believe that he has earned it," Jones told BBC Radio 5 Live. "There are some good players down in the Championship and it would be a shame if they are overlooked because of the division
they are playing in.”
Jones added that seeing Jay advance would be great for the player’s moral and for the Cardiff City club, "Jay thinks he should be there anyway so that's not a problem. It's a lift for Jay, it's a lift for the whole club - myself and the staff. I don't think
he was expecting it. We hoped it would happen because he has been in good form."
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