Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Gerrard Paves Way For Successor


Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard believes that Manchester City winger Adam Johnson has proved in training that he is worthy of a place on the plane to South Africa despite not yet playing for England at full international level.

The former Middlesbrough man has been an impressive top flight force since his £8 million move to Manchester City, fully proving his ability to take the step up from the Championship to the Premier League.

A regular under Roberto Mancini, the 22-year-old is now being tipped to fill a wide left berth for the Three Lions; a position which Liverpool and Anfield hero Gerrard has made his own under during the Capello era.

Liverpool star Gerrard remarked:

"Adam has looked fantastic in training. He is a typical left-winger; he gets good crosses into the box, and is exciting on the ball.

"We will have to wait and see what players Fabio goes with in the final 23.

"But I am sure Adam has got a fantastic chance of going to the World Cup because he is a very talented player."

Fabio Capello has just over a week before he is forced to trim his 30 man provisional squad down the requisite 23 directed by FIFA regulations.

It is believed that Johnson's performance this evening and during Sunday's final friendly against Japan will be decisive in determining his chances of making the trip to South Africa.

Joe Hart, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Gareth Barry are the other City squad members keeping their fingers crossed over the next seven days.

No comments: