Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole fit to play for England v Algeria
England coach Fabio Capello has been handed a massive boost ahead of his team’s crucial match against Algeria on Friday. The charismatic Wayne Rooney and defender Ashley Cole had reportedly missed Monday's training session, Cole to receive some physiotherapy on old injuries and Rooney with a slight ankle injury that he received in the opening match against the USA. Fortunately, the pair were deemed fit enough to return to the fold as England continued their build up to Friday's Group C encounter with Algeria in Cape Town.
However, the presence of Ledley King was missing from the training ground and his participation in the remainder of the tournament must be in serious jeopardy, after the Tottenham captain was forced to retire from proceedings at half-time against the United States due to picking up a groin injury.
And even though, club manager Harry Redknapp has suggested that King has already had a scan and could be out of action for at least three weeks, the FA have so far refused to comment on how long the defender will be missing.
However, it seems unlikely that King, who has a history of troublesome injuries, could be involved until the semi-final stages at the earliest, if England get that far. And by then, it would be a huge risk to put him back into the line-up at such a crucial point.
Meanwhile, Everton defender Leighton Baines has spoken about his "massive disappointment" at being omitted from England's World Cup squad.
The 23-year-old has also dismissed rumours that homesickness was the reason for being overlooked by Capello.
Baines was rejected, in favour of Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock for the number two left-back position to provide cover for Ashley Cole. This was in spite of featuring in the warm-up international against Mexico.
This disappointment is understanderble when you consider that Warnock did not feature in either that game or England’s final friendly international against Japan.Yet the Villa Park defender was still preferred to Baines when Capello cut his initial squad from 30 down to 23.
Baines said, "I must admit it was a massive disappointment and something of a surprise even though, like most of the lads in the squad, I knew full well that I wasn't guaranteed a place.
"I was feeling low because I knew I hadn't played my best against Mexico and I spoke to a reporter I know about how the game had gone.
"At the end of the conversation, I was asked if I was missing the family while we were away, and I said I was but that it's all part and parcel of being a footballer. I'm not embarrassed to admit that being away from the family is difficult at times, but I'm sure that I am not the only player who feels that. It's natural when you've got a young family and you're away from home for long spells so I was shocked when I read some of the reports that later surfaced. I'd never mentioned the word 'homesick' once. I felt that my comments had been misconstrued and I came across as a bit of a moaner, which is not like me at all."
He added, "I was as desperate to make the plane as every other member of the squad and my family was 100% behind me, so I was bitterly disappointed when Mr Capello told me that I wouldn't be going.
"It was a football reason though and had nothing to do with anything written in the newspapers. I respected his decision and wished him and the lads all the best for the tournament."
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