Scott McLeish: Roger Johnson and Scott Dann should play for England
Birmingham City manager Scott McLeish has backed the club's defensive pairing of Roger Johnson and Scott Dann to play for England together at some point in the future.
The pair have played together for a long time and their effectiveness was demonstrated during the weekend win over Chelsea. McLeish has suggested that both of them will become England regulars.
"I think we are a bit unfashionable as a club and that is probably a factor (why they have been ignored).
But the two boys have been absolutely magnificent. Roger, at the age of 27, is a wee bit ahead of Scott in terms of his experience.
Scotty is turning heads with his performances because he is young [22]," McLeish told the Birmingham Mail.
McLeish says that with the number of players England manager Fabio Capello is currently using in and around his squad, Johnson at the very least should be given a chance
in the next friendly or Euro 2010 qualifying game.
"I think Roger deserves to at least have a shout of competing with the other
ten or however many guys it is who are being touted for England. It's about time I flew the flag for him as he's as good, if not better, than any of them," he added.
McLeish has also backed off from suggestions that he would join other managers in demanding he would give England a time to take his players off after. He has admitted
that he would never tell another boss how to do his job.
"I haven't had any contact with Fabio and they have been to plenty of games.
I would never tell a manager who to pick but I am just backing our boy and he deserves at least a mention," he said.
Betting advice
Birmingham is in an unimpressive 15th place in the Premier League table, which suggests the defence hasn't been fully productive. However, both players have the mould of
traditional English centre backs. Don't be afraid to have a punt on Johnson scoring in a game as he's the more attacking.
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