Gary Neville has been left out of Fabio Capello's World Cup squad
Manchester United defender Neville is surprised at the lack of cover at right-back after England boss Capello named Glen Johnson as the only player who regularly plays in that position for his club in his 30-man preliminary squad.
Neville says Capello’s bid to persuade midfielder Paul Scholes out of his six-year international retirement smacked of desperation.
Capello
was more successful in persuading Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher to
end his international exile with his call-up to provide cover for both
the right-back and centre-half positions.
But veteran Neville, 35, is not convinced, believing United team-mate Wes Brown would have been a better choice.
He
said: “I’m slightly surprised that there is only one right-back in the
entire squad, but I am probably more surprised Wes Brown isn’t in the
30, to be honest.
“Capello spoke to Paul
Scholes to try to bring him back into the England squad, but Scholes
retired a good few years ago from international football and he’s not
the type to go back on that.
“Capello maybe got
a bit desperate at the last minute and wanted Scholes because he is
still probably the best midfielder in England. ”
As for his own omission, Neville said: “I wouldn’t say I’m overly disappointed not to be named in the initial 30-man squad.
“Although
I did think there was maybe a chance I could get in, I was under no
illusions about how tough it would be after not being named in the
squad for a year.”
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