Phil Jagielka's fitness for England's opening 2012 qualifier is "touch and go"
Everton centre-back Jagielka reported to England’s Hertfordshire HQ yesterday with the rest of Capello’s 24-man squad, but the ankle injury he sustained in Sunday’s defeat against Aston Villa has ballooned up and he faces a battle to make Friday’s clash with Bulgaria at Wembley. Jagielka sat out training last night and will again be absent today to leave England pinning their hopes on him being able to join in tomorrow’s session.
“He took a nasty blow and it’s touch and go for him for Bulgaria,” said a source.
Capello is already without John Terry and Rio Ferdinand and, with Wes Brown and Jamie Carragher having retired from international football, England’s options have been decimated ahead of a game in which the national coach dare not contemplate a setback.
Jagielka, whose versatility means he can also provide cover for right-back Glen Johnson, won only his fourth cap when starting alongside Terry in the friendly win over Hungary earlier this month
and finished the 2-1 win in tandem with Michael Dawson, who was making his debut.
If
he fails to recover in time, Capello will have the unenviable task of
picking his central defensive pairing from Dawson, the uncapped Gary
Cahill, Matthew Upson and Joleon Lescott.
Upson was initially discarded after England’s World Cup debacle, while Lescott has been at left-back for Manchester City.
England
face Switzerland in Basle a week today in their second game and with
Jagielka, 28, sure to be fit for that, he will stay with Capello’s
party, along with Peter Crouch.
Crouch is another major doubt for the Bulgaria game after ripping muscles in his back against Wigan last Saturday.
There
are also decisions for Capello to make further forward with Frank
Lampard’s absence, as he prepares to undergo a hernia operation,
presenting an opportunity to James Milner or Michael Carrick.
England
were pleased with how a new 4-3-3 formation worked in the first half
against Hungary and Milner’s athleticism means he could slot in easily
alongside skipper Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry.
Carrick
was preferred to Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone in the squad, but has
played just 16 minutes in the Premier League for Manchester United so
far this season.
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