Newcastle United Football Club News

• Nickname:Magpies
• Founded:1881
• Manager:Alan Pardew

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Parker backed for England

21 Sep 2006 - 12:32:26

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Newcastle United boss Glenn Roeder has urged Steve McClaren to recall Scott Parker to the England squad.

Parker has been in inspirational form since inheriting the United captaincy from Alan Shearer in the summer and Roeder believes he is the ideal candidate to replace broken leg victim Owen Hargreaves for next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers.

He told The Sun: "Scott is in the kind of form that if Steve McClaren was ever going to name him in the squad it would be now.

"I don't know if Steve was planning to be at Anfield to watch him on Wednesday, but I do know Scott is at the height of his form at the moment.

"He is proving me right this season by being even better than he was last year and I think the captaincy has given him a lift.

"He's even more determined, he's so highly motivated and he's terrific in the dressing room.

"He is a fantastic voice and, when you need a captain to be loud as you are about to leave the dressing room, Scotty says all the right things."