Source: Team_Talk
Agbonlahor set to get England nod
Fabio Capello will invite those involved in previous qualifiers for a get-together ahead of the Belarus clash at Wembley a week on Wednesday, including injured players such as Stewart Downing and Phil Jagielka.[LNB]The England manager is wary of "arrogance" after eight wins from as many Group Six qualifiers, ruling out a celebratory parade during the dead rubber.[LNB]Before that, England travel to Dnipropetrovsk next weekend to face a Ukraine team that need to win at Dnipro Arena to effectively secure a play-off place, with Capello looking to pick his strongest starting XI rather than making radical changes.[LNB]"I want to play with the best players in the first half always," he said. "The best XI of that moment. After, in the second half, it is possible I will make some substitutions."[LNB]Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor is an option Capello has been considering, especially as Jermain Defoe's hand injury has made the Tottenham forward a concern.[LNB]Agbonlahor, 22, played in friendlies against Germany and Spain before tailing off last season but he has scored in each of his last five games for Villa.[LNB]"With young players sometimes they play well and sometimes not well," Capello said. "We have to wait always to be more confident with the national team and their own team.[LNB]"I was a young player once and know the problems you can find. Now we follow him and he is in a really good moment."[LNB]Agbonlahor's form has limited Emile Heskey's opportunities at Villa Park, with Capello stressing that his players need to feature regularly even though the 31-year-old appears to represent a special case in terms of his function for England.[LNB]"He will be fresh for the World Cup," joked Capello.[LNB]Capello has also considered Darren Bent, although Joe Cole and Theo Walcott are unlikely to be involved due to a lack of match-fitness after returning from injuries.[LNB]Ledley King has a hamstring injury and his hopes of featuring at South Africa look slim as he cannot play matches in quick succession due to a chronic knee condition.[LNB]"If King is fit it is okay, he is one of the best centre-backs," Capello said. "When I select the players it is to play every game.[LNB]"It is possible one defender will be suspended - you have to play, not wait 10 days to play another game. You have to be fit - this is the problem. Always, every game, every training, every day."[LNB]The Ukraine and Belarus games are two of four matches Capello has to finalise his squad for the World Cup next year. England also face Brazil in November and have another friendly to be arranged for March.[LNB]Capello has a pool of up to 37 players and will choose a provisional squad of 28 or 29 for a training camp in Austria ahead of the tournament in South Africa.[LNB]The Italian plans to eradicate the "silly mistakes" that cost his side goals against Holland and Slovenia in recent friendlies.[LNB]"The silly mistakes we made were always in friendly games, not during World Cup qualification," he said. "I always show them DVDs and usually speak with the defenders and the group. Everyone has to understand what happened and what we need to do in order not to make more mistakes."[LNB]Capello is also wary of arrogance or over-confidence ahead of the tournament.[LNB]"We have to respect our opponents but play as a team, without fear in every game," he said. "I always said we are one of the best teams in the world and can play against the best.[LNB]"We have to play every team to win - but with respect. We cannot be arrogant. It is different to be arrogant. If you play with arrogance it is impossible to win."[LNB][LNB] World Cup. Click here to bet.
