THE LIST: Top 50 English players who should be on Fabio Capello's radar

24 February 2010 01:04
The World Cup is less than four months away - and Fabio Capello has some difficult decisions to make. [LNB]        HAVE YOUR SAY...     Who is the best English player in the world today? There's a World Cup coming, time to look lively. Sportsmail's latest edition of The List celebrates the 50 best English footballers in the world today. Who should be in Fabio Capello's sights? Tell us the rising stars, the established stars not pulling their weight, and those you'd like to see return from international retirement. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Next week he will send out a team to face Egypt in what will be England's last friendly before he names the provisional squad for South Africa 2010.[LNB]Who's in his thoughts? Is there a man to fill Ashley Cole's boots if the Chelsea man doesn't recover in time? Which of his imperfect goalkeepers will get the nod between the sticks?[LNB]Sportsmail try to help out the Italian by revealing the top 50 English players of the here and now. Long-term injured stars such as Owen Hargreaves misses out, because, for example, it seems unlikely he can recover form and fitness in time for Manchester United.[LNB]But we highlight some uncapped starlets that Capello should gamble on, pick out the retired stars who should be leaned on to reconsider and reveal those regulars who justify their place in the squad.[LNB]As ever, we countdown with 10 per day, unveiling our No 1 on Friday, and you can join in the debate.[LNB]Read numbers 40-31 HERE.[LNB]30 Ashley Young (Aston Villa)One of the next generation of exciting young English players, Young is an important part of Martin O'Neill's high-flying Aston Villa.[LNB]Competition is fierce in all areas of Fabio Capello's side but Young has all the attributes to consider his chances of making the squad are better than most.[LNB]He has the pace to worry even the best defences, can deliver an accurately from a dead-ball situation, he chips in with goals and, crucially, he has a fine left foot. [LNB] Pace and experience: Ashley Young (left) and David Beckham [LNB]29 David Beckham (Milan)Not so long ago, the hopes of an entire nation rested on the shoulders of David Beckham. Not anymore.[LNB]At 34, Beckham's contribution will be nothing more than peripheral at the World Cup  but don't underestimate the contribution, however small, of England's second most capped player.[LNB]His recent display for AC Milan against Manchester United proved that although he no longer has the engine of five years ago, there is no better deliverer of the ball in the world.[LNB]28 Matthew Etherington (Stoke)The eternal runner, Etherington works his socks off down the left wing and puts in regular man-of-the-match performances for Stoke.[LNB]Still battling gambling addiction and a recent knee injury has halted his progress but he should be back in Tony Pulis's side within the next couple of  weeks. [LNB]The former Peterbrough, Tottenham and West Ham star has yet to make his full international debut yet but Capello has said he'll pick players on form, and Etherington has plenty of that.[LNB] On a wing and a prayer: Matthew Etherington and David James have been injured[LNB]27 David James (Portsmouth)James' career has taken in six clubs, an FA Cup final victory and the 'Calamity' moniker but he has never faced a challenge as great as the one that faces him at Portsmouth. [LNB]Pompey are in a parlous state and in a World Cup season, James lost his place to Asmir Begovic. It couldn't have gone much worse for the England regular.[LNB]However, his persistence paid off. He has regained his place after Begovic's departure and despite the south coast club's [LNB]26 Ryan Shawcross (Stoke)Declared surplus to requirements by Sir Alex Ferguson, Shawcross has since become indispensable to Tony Pulis after his £1m move to Stoke.[LNB]The 6ft 5ins centre-back scored a perfectly decent winner against Manchester City which was struck off but scoring goals is not the part of his game which earns him headlines.[LNB]He possesses pace, strength and a cool head in both penalty areas. This World Cup may come to soon for the 22-year-old but he is certainly one for the future.[LNB] Sapphire and steel: Not much gets Ryan Shawcross (left) while Jamie O'Hara is really impressing at fast-fading Pompey [LNB]25 Jamie O'Hara (Portsmouth)Given the options available to him, the versatile midfielder is showing real character by taking on the challenge at ailing Portsmouth. [LNB]Well regarded at Tottenham but with a surplus of players ahead of him in the queue for places, he has had to take the plunge at the south coast club and is prospering.[LNB]And what better way to endear yourself to the Pompey faithful than by putting in a man-of-the-match performance against your rivals Southampton. [LNB]24 Carlton Cole (West Ham)West Ham's giant striker is one of several who feature prominently in Fabio Capello's thoughts for a place at the World Cup, and quite rightly so.[LNB]Few can run the line, hold the ball up and finish as well as the Hammers forward. Nine goals is a fine return given how much of the season he has sat out through injury.[LNB]Admittedly Capello has favoured Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch as a front man but Cole's work-rate and record in front of goal has to make him an option.[LNB] Goals pay the rent: Carlton Cole has nine in an injury-hit season while Stewart Downing is pushing Aston Villa towards the Champions League[LNB]23 Stewart Downing (Aston Villa)There was a time when you had to be a Middlesbrough fan or, more recently, an Aston Villa fan to understand the hype surrounding Downing. [LNB]But as Martin O'Neill's side continue to prosper, more fans are witnessing just how good the 25-year-old winger really is. [LNB]Favoured by Capello since he become England manager, Downing is confident on the ball, and can deliver [LNB]22 Peter Crouch (Tottenham)The ultimate 'other option' up front, Tottenham striker Crouch has long been a part of the England set-up and has a fantastic international scoring record - indeed he has 18 goals in 17 starts for his country.[LNB]Crouch has 12 goals this season and his form has been such that Robbie Keane wasn't able to win a place and disappeared on loan to Celtic.[LNB]Only a severe dip in form or injury will deprive him of his place on the plane to South Africa. He may even treat us to that robot dance again we've all missed so much.[LNB] Attack and defence: Both Peter Crouch (left) and Roger Johnson have put forward good cases for going to the World Cup[LNB]31 Roger Johnson (Birmingham)One of the surprises of the season. No one predicted just how well Johnson would have performed at the heart of the Birmingham defence particularly given his lack of Premier League experience.[LNB]But alongside Scott Dann he has formed one of the most frugal centre-back partnerships in the league and the 26-year-old is forcing his way up the pecking order for a place in Capello's squad.[LNB] The best of the rest of The ListSportsmail's top 50 unlikely sporting heroesSportsmail's top 50 golden oldies in British footballSportsmail's top 50 Premier League players of the decadeSportsmail's top 50 last-gasp goals in British footballSportsmail's top 50 footballers never to play at the World CupSportsmail's top 50 sporting feuds of all timeSportsmail's 50 great sports photographsSportsmail's top 50 commentators of all timeSportsmail's top 50 sporting venuesSportsmail's top 50 performers of the season so farSportsmail's top 50 all-time managers in BritainSportsmail's top 50 goal poachersSportsmail's top 50 footballing traitorsSportsmail's top 50 FA Cup heroesSportsmail's greatest Wembley finals in historySportsmail's top 50 biggest hitters in cricketSportsmail's top 50 British & Irish LionsSportsmail's top 50 Ashes heroes  

Source: Daily_Mail