Source: Daily_Mail
Suddenly, Fabio frets over James as keeper faces a difficult road ahead
Fabio Capello did not hesitate when asked whether he knew who would be his goalkeeper if England reached the World Cup finals.
'I know,' he said, nodding slowly.
Capello decided long ago that David James was the best keeper he had, regardless of his advancing years and his reputation for howlers.
Laying down the law: England defenders take confidence from having David James' commanding presence to back them up
Like plenty of other managers before him, the England boss had been seduced by the athletic 6ft 4in frame, the fitness record and dedication of 39-year-old James to his craft.
He also noted how the back four appeared more at ease when the Portsmouth goalkeeper was behind them.
Capello went on to dismiss the idea that Manuel Almunia might have a shout if he took up British citizenship and seemed determined to kill the notion of a season-long beauty contest for the right to be England's No 1 in South Africa.
That was three weeks ago as England gathered to launch their season with a friendly in Holland. Events since will not have altered Capello's thinking - he is not so fickle - but they will not have escaped his notice, either.
It is a reminder of how quickly the landscape can shift. Capello was at Fratton Park on Sunday to watch Pompey, without James due to injury, lose 1-0 to Manchester City as speculation grew about the keeper's possible transfer to Tottenham.
In line with his policy of not picking players not fit enough to play in their final club match before an international, the England boss left James out of the squad for Saturday's friendly against Slovenia and Wednesday's qualifier against Croatia.
It is his third successive absence from England duty, having opted out of qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra at the end of last season for surgery on long-standing shoulder and knee problems. He has not played for his country since April 1 against Ukraine.
James is not accustomed to missing games and returned ahead of schedule from his operations but the knee was still bothering him as the season kicked off.
He came off during a pre-season friendly against Rangers and missed England's game in Holland to avoid aggravating it. Then he suffered a different knee injury when he took a knock in the second game of the season, at Birmingham, a match in which he conceded a decisive penalty with a clumsy dash from his line.
It was diagnosed as bruising on the bone and, although he tried to play at Arsenal three days later, he was forced off again after 75 minutes. James believes he would have been fit to face Slovenia but, after talking to England physio Gary Lewin, agreed it would be best to ensure he was fully over the injury rather than risk another bang on the knee.
His absence provides another chance for understudies Rob Green and Ben Foster to extend their claims. Green has played the last three games and can expect to keep the gloves for these two fixtures.
Transfer interest from Spurs has served only to add to the uncertainty around James, who is renowned for being an intense, up-and-down personality and was clearly frustrated to miss out on the chance to join his old boss, Harry Redknapp, at White Hart Lane.
Instead of preparing for one last chance to achieve something at the top end of the Barclays Premier League, James is facing the prospect of being the last line of defence in a patched-up Pompey team destined to battle relegation.
It is exactly the kind of issue which he sometimes allows to prey on his mind. How will Capello react if his goalkeeper's confidence takes a battering, losing every week and conceding a sackful of goals?
His options may have been limited but at least James was smart enough to confront his fears quickly, positively and professionally with a pledge to work harder than ever to help Portsmouth avoid the drop.
He can expect plenty of shots to save, which can only help him convince the England boss his physical condition continues to defy his years and he is in the right frame of mind.
Capello wants him to succeed and, if he does, a season which has started in such nightmarish fashion for James will end with the fulfilment of a dream, playing in goal for England in the World Cup finals.
