Kirkland - Titus for England

16 March 2009 09:51
Chris Kirkland believes his Wigan team-mate Titus Bramble is worthy of a call-up to Fabio Capello's England squad.[LNB] The goalkeeper hailed the former Ipswich and Newcastle defender's performances over the entire campaign after another solid display in the 2-1 win at Sunderland on Saturday.[LNB]Bramble has often been criticised and ridiculed in equal measure for some calamitous mistakes in the past but this season has seen him turn his fortunes around.[LNB]Capello has shown in the past that he is willing to pick players who are in form for their clubs, giving the 27-year-old an outside chance of being selected for the Slovakia friendly at the end of March.[LNB]"He is my player of the season by a mile, he's definitely got my vote and hopefully he can carry on doing what he's been doing all season," Kirkland told the Daily Mirror.[LNB]"Titus has found a place where he is happy and he has become a very important player for us.[LNB]Talented"I played with him for the Under-21s years ago and you could see then he was such a talented player.[LNB]"He took some terrible stick when he made mistakes. For some reason they were blown up as if he had committed the biggest crimes in the world.[LNB]"It is a testament to him and a testament to this club that he's come here and is playing with a smile on his face. [LNB]"He's performing like that every week, so I've got to say he is international standard. He's worth a look by England."[LNB]Meanwhile, Latics boss Steve Bruce believes that Kirkland would be England's first choice No.1 had it not been for a string of injuries.[LNB]"For me, Chris is the best goalkeeper in England. If he didn't have the problems he has with his back, he'd be England's No.1," he told the Daily Mail.[LNB]"That's no disrespect to David James. I played alongside one of the world's best in Peter Schmeichel and Chris is right up there.[LNB]"It's just a shame that physically getting on planes and buses he struggles. We've had to restrict him and he has a personal conditioner who works to keep him on the pitch.[LNB]"I'm English and if he can keep injury-free, I'd love to see him in goal for England because he deserves to be."[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports