Source: SKY_Sports
Kirkland - Titus for England
Chris Kirkland believes his Wigan team-mate Titus Bramble is worthy of a call-up to Fabio Capello's England squad. 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.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.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."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."Titus has found a place where he is happy and he has become a very important player for us.Talented"I played with him for the Under-21s years ago and you could see then he was such a talented player."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."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. "He's performing like that every week, so I've got to say he is international standard. He's worth a look by England."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."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."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."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."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."