Hot for Spurs - but Woodgate's not holding his breath for England call

21 April 2009 11:06
Jonathan Woodgate admits he's not pinning his hopes on an England recall despite regaining his form for Tottenham. Fabio Capello was at White Hart Lane as the 29-year-old put in an impressive performance in Spurs 1-0 defeat of Woodgate's former club Newcastle. The former Real Madrid defender's last cap came in the 3-0 friendly defeat of Trinidad & Tobago last June, and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp called for the 29-year-old to be chosen for last month's matches against Slovakia and Ukraine. But Woodgate has fallen behind players like Everton pair Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka in the race for central defensive place, while team-mate Ledley King also beat him to a call-up. Asked whether he was hopeful of an international return, Woodgate told London's Evening Standard: 'I'm not, really. It's just about the way I'm playing for Spurs. That's enough for me. 'I just want to win things. We know we have a good squad here. We are one point off seventh place, and I fancy our chances of finishing there. We can do it. 'We haven't been beaten by any of the top sides in the League this season, and we have beaten Liverpool and Chelsea. Our record against the top four is impeccable, but United will put out a strong side, and it will be very tough.' Woodgate could be the only recognised centre-back available at Old Trafford this Saturday, with both King and Michael Dawson struggling. King suffered a bang to his knee in the 1-0 win over West Ham on April 11, while Dawson is waiting for the swelling around his injured ankle, acquired after he fell against Newcastle on Sunday, to reduce before he can have a scan to assess the extent of the damage.

Source: Daily_Mail