Capello’s door open to England exiles

Ben Foster’s decision not to make himself available for Three Lions duty for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales has left England manager Capello with a problem now Robert Green has also been ruled out through injury.

In addition to first choice Joe Hart, who will win his 12th cap in Sofia tonight, Capello has only been able to call up Championship duo David Stockdale and Frankie Fielding.

One plausible candidate, Scott Carson, is injured and probably would not have been considered anyway since his own move to Turkish side Bursaspor, while the Premier League’s only other English goalkeeper in addition to Hart, Norwich’s John Ruddy, is still thought to be too raw.

The prospect of anything happening to Hart is enough to keep Capello awake at night.

Yet the knowledge Paul Robinson also called time on his England career after the 2010 World Cup, at virtually the same point as Wes Brown abandoned the Three Lions’ cause, has reopened the debate about how much national service actually means to the modern-day player.

“Everyone is free to decide about his life and his job. I respect that,” said Capello.

“But I never go. If the players want to return, they can speak with a lot of people.

“They can text message. They can do everything. The door is not closed for these people.”

Yet Capello finds it difficult to understand the viewpoint they are coming from.

Gary Neville and Paul Scholes both recently spoke of the futility they felt about their own international careers.

It is something Capello never experienced, even though his omission from Italy’s 1978 World Cup squad by Enzo Bearzot was one of the most depressing points of his entire career.

“The players who are here are proud to stay with us, to wear the English shirt,” he said.

“It is really important to have that. I didn’t speak to Ben Foster about this squad, (general manager) Franco (Baldini) did. I met him when he stayed with us the last time. He had a problem with his hand. Afterwards he said he wanted to be really fit to return with us.”

Yet the feeling persisted that Foster’s absence was more to do with disenchantment at not being No 1, something Capello cannot submit to.

“The players I select, no one knows whether they are sure to play,” he said. “I am the manager. I selected 25 players for the squad this time. I must decide the first XI, the substitutes and the others who need to go to the stands.

“It is important for all the players who stay with us to be proud to wear the English shirt.”

Capello is convinced Wayne Rooney’s hat-trick against Arsenal last week can provide the impetus for him to end his international goal drought.

England’s No 1 striker heads into today’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia with just one goal to his name in two years. It is a staggering statistic, taking in, as it does, not only the barren year from March 2010 when Rooney’s form dipped dramatically, but also the period beforehand which launched his best campaign, and brought him 34 goals for Manchester United.

With a groin injury threatening the participation of Darren Bent, and neither Andy Carroll nor Jermain Defoe currently regarded as first choice for their clubs, there could be more pressure than usual on Rooney to perform.

But Capello feels the injection of confidence the 25-year-old gained last weekend, in addition to the boost provided by United’s dazzling array of younger players, leaves him on the verge of making a big impact for the Three Lions.

“Goals are a fantastic medicine for a forward,” said Capello.

“Now is a good moment for him. The spirit of Manchester United is different.

“Those young players have put something different on the pitch.”

The big question for Capello is how many of Rooney’s Red Devils team-mates he should call upon.

Ashley Young is a certainty and Chris Smalling appears more likely than not to make his England debut.

There is also a growing feeling that Phil Jones may be handed his first cap too given the excellence of his performances during United’s opening three Premier League games.

It means the player most likely to miss out is Tom Cleverley as England look to gain the win that would leave them in pole position to qualify as Group G winners.

Aside from the central defensive conundrum, Capello’s major problems surround his midfield combination, with two of Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry and Tottenham newcomer Scott Parker expected to get the nod.

Theo Walcott, who has made his peace with the England coach over some pretty pointed remarks in his recently-released autobiography, and Stewart Downing will both be hopeful of starts.