Welbeck: Rio's a Rolls-Royce

04 October 2011 13:56
Danny Welbeck insists Rio Ferdinand is still "a Rolls-Royce of a defender" despite him being left out of the latest England squad.[LNB] The 20-year-old, who is hoping to make his competitive international debut at senior level in partnership with another United colleague, Wayne Rooney, rejected any suggestion that Ferdinand, who has struggled with a series of injury problems recently, should be written off.[LNB]"We all know what capabilities he's got - he's a Rolls-Royce of a defender," Welbeck said.[LNB]"It's wrong to write him off. We all know the ability he's got."[LNB]Ferdinand had been expected to be included in Capello's squad for the crucial Euro 2012 qualifier away to Montenegro on Friday having recovered from a hamstring strain suffered in August. However, the Italian has decided he is lacking in match practice.[LNB]Welbeck would relish forming an all-United strike pairing with Rooney, and said: "He's been on fire, he has started the season scoring goals and creating goals. To be training with him every day is a bonus and I'm going to learn from him.[LNB]"He's a great guy to go to for advice, he's always talking to you during training and it's been really beneficial.[LNB]"Because we've been training together for a couple of years now it would work (as a partnership for England)."[LNB]England need just a point in Podgorica to ensure a place in next summer's Euro finals in Poland and Ukraine, with Montenegro needing to beat England and then follow that up with a win over Switzerland in Basle next week to finish top of Group G.[LNB]However, Welbeck felt England should approach the game in a positive manner.[LNB]"I don't think it would be right to go to Montenegro and play for a point, our aim is to win every game we go into and I don't see why we can't do that," he said.[LNB]Asked whether he felt there were cliques in the England camp - a problem former United team-mate Paul Scholes claims he experienced - Welbeck said: "I've not felt that yet, hopefully I don't. I'm good friends with (Liverpool striker) Andy (Carroll), and (Manchester City defender) Micah Richards. All the lads are great, it's a great set-up in the camp."[LNB]All 24 players included in Capello's squad took part in this morning's initial training session at Arsenal's London Colney headquarters.[LNB]Fulham striker Bobby Zamora and Bursaspor goalkeeper Scott Carson were back in the international fold after earning recalls from Capello.[LNB]But it is the likes of Manchester United duo Welbeck and Phil Jones plus Tottenham's Kyle Walker who will have most to play for in the next few days.[LNB]Welbeck, who has scored five goals in six games this season, missed last month's victories over Bulgaria and Wales with a hamstring injury.[LNB]Jones and Walker look to be in contention for the right-back berth vacated by Chris Smalling due to a groin problem.[LNB]Walker impressed during the summer's European Under-21 Championships and netted the winner for Spurs against Arsenal in Sunday's north London derby.

Source: Team_Talk