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| CAPELLO CRACKS THE WHIP |
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| England boss Fabio Capello insists he will have the final say on whether Manchester United and Chelsea players take part in next weekend's friendly against Trinidad and Tobago. Nine of the English players involved in this week's Champions League final will report for international duty on Saturday ahead of Wednesday's Wembley date with the USA. But with the final in Moscow going to extra-time and penalties, it remains unclear whether the players involved will travel to Port of Spain for next Sunday's Trinidad and Tobago clash. In his first interview in English, Capello told the BBC's Football Focus programme: "I'll decide - if I want them to go then they'll go. "We are one England team and we wear one England shirt." One player who will not be involved in either game is striker Michael Owen, who has been laid low by a virus. The Newcastle striker's illness meant he was unable to turn up for England duty yesterday morning. Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas is also out of the squad with an ankle problem. It is a serious blow to Owen, who has found himself used as a substitute by Capello in the Italian coach's two games in charge so far after years as an automatic choice. It is especially galling for the 28-year-old as he had finished the season in good form for Newcastle, but his absence opens up an avenue of opportunity for relatively untested names among the forwards in the squad to stake a claim for involvement in the World Cup qualifiers next season. West Ham's Dean Ashton, who had been targeted by Capello's predecessor Steve McClaren as a striker worth pursuing before a serious injury cruelly intervened, is likely to be given a chance and so too will Arsenal's Theo Walcott, though whether as a striker or a winger is not yet certain. Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor and Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe are also in the squad as well as England regulars Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch. David Beckham will arrive tomorrow after his match for the Los Angeles Galaxy against Kansas City Wizards tonight. All the other members of Capello's squad have reported for duty and started training yesterday morning. Jenas did report for duty but after his ankle problem was examined by England medical staff he was sent home. Meanwhile, the friendly in Trinidad and Tobago will definitely go ahead after a domestic row over rental terms for the ground where the match is scheduled to be played was resolved. The country's Ministry of Sports owns the Hasely Crawford Stadium but the Caribbean nation's football federation (TTFF) had been in dispute with them over advertising and rental fees. That put the June 1 fixtures under threat, but both sides have agreed to abide by a High Court judge's ruling over the matter. (PA Sports, May 24, 2008) |
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