AJ upbeat despite England blow

02 June 2010 14:48
Manchester City's Adam Johnson has vowed to take the positives out of his World Cup disappointment after being left out of the England squad.[LNB] The 22-year-old appeared on track to sneak into Fabio Capello's party when he made his debut in the pre-tournament friendly against Mexico after receiving his first international call-up.[LNB]But the City winger was not among the 23 players named on Tuesday and will instead have to watch the tournament from home.[LNB]"Of course I was a bit down when I got the news and my first thought was that I wish I'd had more of a chance to show what I could do in the two warm-up matches," he told City's official website.[LNB]"I would have loved the chance to showcase what I can do on the biggest stage of all but I am not going to dwell on it.[LNB]"The England management made it clear to me that I have an international future and I am going to have a rest now and then get my head down and get ready to try and work my way into the side for September qualifiers.[LNB]"I suppose if you had mentioned the World Cup to me back in December I would have smiled but I had a thought in the back of my mind when I signed for City that if I did well I might have half a chance.[LNB]"I am going to take the positives out of the last two weeks."[LNB]Johnson came into the England reckoning after joining City from Middlesbrough in January, and then dislodging Shaun Wright-Phillips - who is in the World Cup squad - from Roberto Mancini's starting XI.[LNB]Johnson's versatility appeared to count in his favour, but he played only six minutes of the friendly against Mexico before remaining on the sidelines throughout the Japan clash.[LNB]"I have worked with the squad, I have an England cap which is a wonderful honour and I know that I will be in the mind of the coach and his staff for the future," Johnson added.[LNB]"I am an England fan and in a way I built up so many bonds in the last couple of weeks that I will still feel part of it.[LNB]"I have spoken to Shaun (Wright-Phillips), wished him good luck and told him to go and do well. There are certainly no hard feelings towards him.[LNB]"I am delighted for Gareth (Barry) too. He has had a great season and it would have been so cruel for injury to have robbed him of a World Cup.[LNB]"The lads are fully capable of winning the World Cup. I think we have a great chance along with maybe two or three other sides. Of course we will need a bit of luck along the way that goes with winning anything in sport but no one should write off England's chances."

Source: Team_Talk