Source: Daily_Mail
England trio urge Bridge to bolster Capello's bid for World Cup glory
Manchester City's England stars have personally urged Wayne Bridge to change his mind and make himself available for Fabio Capello at the World Cup. [LNB]'Team Bridge' members Gareth Barry, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joleon Lescott do not want the left-back to miss out on South Africa because of the behaviour of his former team-mate John Terry, who had an affair with the mother of Bridge's son, Vanessa Perroncel.[LNB]They have already had one appeal turned down by the 29-year-old but are prepared to have another go before the summer in the hope that time will have healed some wounds.[LNB] Revelations: John Terry's (left) affair with the mother of Wayne Bridge's child forced the Manchester City defender to withdraw from international duty[LNB]England regular Barry became the first City player to break the silence over Terrygate by revealing his fear that Bridge will regret not going to South Africa and becoming a potential World Cup winner for the rest of his life.[LNB]Barry, who admitted it had been 'awkward' at first to meet up with Terry during the friendly against Egypt at the start of the month following the lurid headlines over his private life, stressed he would like to see Bridge reconsider his international retirement although making it clear they 'respect the final decision is up to him'.[LNB]Bridge told Capello he would not play for England alongside Terry after revelations that his former Chelsea team-mate had enjoyed a fling with his ex-girlfriend Perroncel, and made her pregnant.[LNB]Ironically, Bridge would have a good chance of starting in the World Cup because of a long-term ankle injury to first-choice left-back Ashley Cole, even though the City player is himself ruled out for three weeks including Sunday's Premier League game against Fulham following a hernia operation.[LNB] Support: Manchester City players have publicly backed their team-mate Wayne Bridge over the John Terry scandal[LNB]Speaking after taking part in a City fundraising walk for Sport Relief, midfielder Barry said: 'I would like to see Wayne go to the World Cup. Time can change people's opinions sometimes and hopefully it can with him.[LNB]'He doesn't want to sit down in a few years and regret anything. I'm not sure what he's thinking at the moment but I hope he changes his mind. [LNB]'It might be a last chance to do something like this and be part of a team to go to a World Cup, so you don't want him regretting anything. [LNB]'There have already been conversations between the lads and Wayne, just seeing what his mindset is, and there will probably be a time that we have a conversation again.[LNB]'We can only give our opinion and put that across but at the end of the day his decision will be the final one and we will respect that. Wayne has been to a World Cup before, he knows what it's all about.'[LNB]Barry assured England fans the Terry affair would not detract from their performances this summer, although he admitted it had been difficult meeting up for the Egypt friendly at the start of this month when the Chelsea man had just lost the captaincy.[LNB] Sharp shooter: Gareth Barry has missed just one Premier League match for Manchester City since joining them from Aston Villa[LNB]'I suppose it was an awkward situation for the City players in the squad, Joleon, Shaun and myself,' he said. 'But you have to put that aside because you're professionals. You are going there to do a job and work with each other and you can't think about it too much. [LNB]'Being there at dinner, training every day, there wasn't too much difference. As professionals we got on with the job.'[LNB]More worrying is the number of injuries suffered by Capello's players. David Beckham has been ruled out of the World Cup and there are doubts over Cole, Aaron Lennon, Owen Hargreaves and Jermain Defoe, while Glen Johnson, Theo Walcott and Rio Ferdinand have had long spells on the sidelines.[LNB]Barry, who has missed only one Premier League game for City since a £12million move from Aston Villa last summer, says such injury scares are almost inevitable in such a competitive league.[LNB]'It is the tempo of our game, which is relentless,' he added. 'It's hard week in, week out. You only have to speak to players like Patrick Vieira, who have come back after time away.[LNB]High hopes: Barry believes a fourth-placed finish would represent a successful season[LNB]'It is a bit of a shock. There is a battle every week so the injuries are no surprise. I have been lucky with injuries and touch wood that continues. [LNB]'Considering I joined a new club this season, I feel that I've really settled in.'[LNB]City are chasing a top-four spot alongside Barry's former club Aston Villa and one he could have joined in the summer, Liverpool.[LNB]Unbeaten at home this season, City have won only four of 15 games away from Eastlands and Fulham's sensational 4-1 victory against Juventus on Thursday night has made them even more aware of the Londoners' threat.[LNB]'Bobby Zamora is the danger man at the moment, he is playing really well and everything goes through him,' said Barry, one of Mark Hughes's most successful signings before the manager was replaced by Italian Roberto Mancini. [LNB]'Zamora is the focal point but they have other players who can win games as well, as Clint Dempsey did on Thursday. But we're in with a great shout and if we can continue picking up results we can grab fourth place.[LNB]'This club finished 10th last season and to go from there to first is impossible. But to get to fourth is an achievable target and if we do that, it will be a great season.'[LNB]Mancini, who skipped a fans' forum on Thursday night to spy on Fulham, is likely to give Vieira only his third Premier League start since a January move from Inter Milan alongside Barry in central midfield, with Nigel de Jong set to miss out.[LNB] Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini tells Wayne Bridge to make World Cup U-turnMartin Samuel: Don't worry, Capello won't make a drama out of a crisisCity stars send message to John Terry with 'Team Bridge' shirts for Wayne Terry not fit to be England captain so I had to axe him, insists Fabio CapelloSteward hit by John Terry's car delays meeting with the Chelsea captainMANCHESTER CITY FC
