Fulham FC

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Nearly man tag annoys Zat

12 Feb 2007 - 14:57:09

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Fulham defender Zat Knight has not given up hope of earning an England recall after recovering from a broken jaw.

The 26-year-old represented his country in the friendly international victories against the USA and Colombia in May 2005 but has failed to win an England cap since.

However, after returning to the Cottagers first team recently and scoring in Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Bolton Wanderers, an upbeat Knight said: "Before I broke my jaw, I was happy with my form, and it happened at a crucial time for myself.

"There was an England game coming up and the new manager (Steve McClaren) made a lot of changes, so you think maybe if I was not injured, I could have got in.

"It's something I'd love to get back to - but I have to produce at Fulham first. I thought I did well earlier in the season and the gaffer gave me a lot of praise, but then being out for a couple of months was a downer.

"I still feel quite young and that I have a chance of making it. To be the nearly man would be a bit of a bummer for myself because I know what I'm capable of doing.

"I know what makes me tick and I felt I'd done that before December."