Jamie Carragher is poised to make a sensational return to
international football by answering a desperate World Cup plea from
England manager Fabio Capello.
The Liverpool defender quit international football three years
ago citing the fact that he was tired of being nothing more than a
squad player and complaining that he was never given the chance to
prove himself as a top-level centre half.
But amid serious concerns over the fitness of Rio Ferdinand, Wes
Brown, Joleon Lescott and Ledley King, Capello has turned to
Carragher and sources at Liverpool indicated he is ready to answer
the call.
National service: Carragher is ready to return to
the England fold three years after retiring
Conscious that he might be accused of hypocrisy and opportunism,
Carragher, 32, has been agonising over the situation for some time
after a series of discussions with Capello and his right-hand man,
Franco Baldini.
But Carragher has already been assured that he would definitely
be in Capello's final 23 for South Africa and could play a major
part.
If Ferdinand continues to struggle with back and groin problems
and Capello cannot be certain of having King available for every
match, Carragher would be the obvious choice as partner to John
Terry at the heart of his defence.
Capello wants to name the Liverpool defender in the provisional
30-man squad he will unveil on Tuesday and then take him to Austria
for a pre-tournament training camp.
There Carragher would be able to see for himself if Ferdinand
and King would be fit enough to keep him out of the team.
Once the final squad of 23 is named on June 1, any subsequent
seriously injured players can be replaced up to 24 hours before
England's World Cup opener against the USA on June 12. And,
crucially, replacements do not have to have been in the original
30.
Crock crisis: Fabio Capello has injury concerns
over key players
Carragher is a man of principle and only because England need
him so much is he even prepared to consider a comeback. It is a
selfless rather than selfish act and the answer to two problems
currently troubling Capello.
As well as centre-half, Carragher would also provide an
alternative to Wes Brown, only just back from a long absence with
injury, as cover for Glen Johnson at right back.
On Friday, Capello also had other issues to deal with. While
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini said he thought Gareth
Barry could be back in action in 'three or four weeks' after
damaging ankle ligaments against Tottenham on Wednesday, the FA
fear he could be sidelined for closer to two months.
That has forced them to consider another amazing comeback - that
of Owen Hargreaves, who is only just back in Manchester United's
squad after 19 months out with a serious knee problem.
Capello was not prepared to take a chance on Hargreaves, but he
realises he might have to now.
Pain game: Gareth Barry is out for a month and
could miss the World Cup
If he has to look elsewhere for a specialist holding midfielder
he would prefer Tom Huddlestone to Scott Parker, while Michael
Carrick is also expected to secure a place in the original 30.
But Carragher was the main issue for the FA, and they worry that
some of the statements he has made, since announcing his
international retirement could be used against him.
He wrote in his autobiography: 'I confess: defeats wearing an
England shirt never hurt me in the same way as losing with my club.
I wasn't uncaring or indifferent, I simply didn't put England's
fortunes at the top of my priority list. Losing felt like a
disappointment rather than a calamity.'
In an impassioned radio interview in 2007, he said: 'I've never
really played centre-half for England and, to be honest, I've never
really played that well for England because I've played a lot of
the time at full-back.
Back in the frame: Hargreaves may be recalled after
19 months out
'If Steve McClaren's chosen people ahead of me then I don't
think anyone can really complain if I would rather concentrate and
save myself for Liverpool games.
'For me, now it's time to concentrate on my Liverpool
career.
'If I'm not getting a game for England at 29 there's no chance
of me getting a game at 32 in the next World Cup.'
But the situation has changed, and now England need Carragher so
much he is prepared to change his stance.