Close call: Gary Neville challenges AC Milan's
Ronaldinho during Manchester United's victory in the Champions
League clash
Gary Neville could yet emerge as the shock inclusion in Fabio
Capello's World Cup squad.
The Manchester United full-back impressed against AC Milan on
Wednesday night and the England manager will turn to the
35-year-old if there are concerns over the fitness of Glen Johnson
or Wes Brown in May.
Sources close to Capello insist that Neville is third in the
pecking order when it comes to right-backs - ahead of players like
Micah Richards - and the Italian is encouraged by the fact that he
has now made 20 appearances for United this season after a
difficult two or three years with injury.
There have been concerns over Johnson and Brown. Johnson only
returned to action for Liverpool on Monday because of a knee injury
he suffered in late December and Brown is now facing six weeks on
the sidelines after fracturing a metatarsal in his left foot at
Wolves on Saturday.
Neville has had more than his fair share of problems. A serious
ankle injury ruled him out for most of the 2007-08 season and
appearances have been limited since then.
His last England cap came against Spain in February 2007,
although Capello did recall him to his squad for the World Cup
qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra last May. One more
England appearance would see Neville equal Kenny Sansom's record
for an England full-back.
Neville has certainly not ruled himself out for the World
Cup.
'England is out of my hands,' he said after shining in Wednesday
night's 4-0 defeat of Milan. 'It has not happened for two or three
years and I am not holding out for a call. But I have not retired.
I always said I never would. I am playing for United and I would
play for my country.'