Capello turns to Bothroyd in search of striker

The 28-year-old might have taken his time to reach the highest level and has had to bypass the Premier League entirely after winning his first international call-up ahead of tomorrow's friendly with France at Wembley.

But the Cardiff striker views his single season at Perugia as the most important of his career, bringing his focus back after he had failed to match the promise of his teenage years.

"It has been a long journey but I have picked up a lot of experience along the way," he said.

"I went to Italy and came back a more mature person. I was more focused on getting what I want from my career."

What Bothroyd did not want to be remembered for was throwing his shirt down in disgust at the end of a cup final in his youth days with Arsenal.

One of the most highly-rated members of a team that included Ashley Cole and Jermaine Pennant, it seemed Bothroyd had the world at his feet.

It turned out to be his shirt, which he threw at the feet of Gunners' coach Don Howe after a particularly disappointing performance.

Reaction was swift. Bothroyd was ejected from Arsenal, tipping him onto a career path that has encompassed Coventry, Blackburn, Charlton, Wolves, Stoke and Cardiff in addition to that year in Serie A.

"I was a lot younger then," he reflected.

"It was a massive mistake. Arsenal are a great club with a great manager.

"But you have to learn from your mistakes.

"It has been a long journey but I am back on track again now. I am involved with the England squad as well, which is great."

Bothroyd might use his own experiences to offer fellow forward Andy Carroll some timely advice.

The Newcastle frontman has been heavily tipped to make his debut this week, although he reported for duty with a groin injury, on which the Football Association offered no update yesterday.

Carroll has been involved in plenty of scrapes himself. But Bothroyd does not feel the

21-year-old's past should be used to condemn him.

"Footballers are role models in certain respects," said Bothroyd.

"The media tend to focus on players' private lives. But Andy Carroll is a young guy. People make mistakes. You have to learn from them."

Bothroyd refreshingly has no axe to grind about the number of foreign players plying their trade in the Premier League.

Instead, he feels his years in the wilderness have benefited him, nowhere more than Cardiff, where he has spent the last three seasons.

He has already scored 15 goals for the Bluebirds this season, including two at Scunthorpe on Saturday, firing the Welshmen towards the top flight, and boosting the credentials of manager Dave Jones in the process.

"Dave Jones has been great for me," he said.

"I always knew I had the ability but I needed to work harder off the ball and tackle back more.

"The last three years have helped me enormously."

Bothroyd is standing on the brink of joining an exclusive club this week, following David Nugent as the latest player from lower down the English league pyramid than the top flight to play for his country.

That substitute appearance in March 2007 is remembered more for the abuse heaped on Steve McClaren for an unconvincing

3-0 victory over Andorra in Barcelona than Nugent's contribution.

Bothroyd is hoping for a happier experience, insisting there is a lot more talent alongside him should Capello wish to take note. "It is good for the Championship," he said.

"A few players have played for England after playing there.

"Andy Carroll played there last year. Now he is here as well.

"There are some really good players in the Championship and plenty of players capable of playing at a higher level."

Jordan Henderson aims to put the icing on a memorable few days by winning his first England cap tomorrow at Wembley.

Midfielder Henderson was ecstatic after receiving the call-up on Saturday evening from Capello.

Then the 20-year-old and his Sunderland team-mates followed that up by triumphing 3-0 against Barclays Premier League leaders and champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Now Henderson is looking to make the senior breakthrough with his country and insists he is not fazed by the prospect if he is called upon by national boss Capello.

Henderson said: "I am over the moon. With the result yesterday and getting the England call-up, it's been a really good week for me.

"Now for me I've got my chance with England. I've got to train well and hopefully I will get my first cap.

"Wembley will be a new experience, a massive experience for me."

Henderson added: "I won't get carried away. I've just got to keep doing what I am doing.

"I have got the right people around me, good friends, and good family.

"It has been quite a rapid rise. I just want to keep going and progressing as a player and learning things from people."