Green says goalkeeping battle is good news for England

Coach Fabio Capello has not yet declared his first choice for the opening game against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12, insisting he does not want to declare his hand too early.

David James did appear to be Capello's preferred choice at the start of the season, when the Italian was more concrete in his ideas.

Yet injury has restricted the Portsmouth star to just one international appearance last term, as a substitute against the Ukraine in October after Green had been sent off.

Capello has also spoken in glowing terms about Joe Hart's development and refused to rule out the possibility the 23-year-old could head to South Africa as his No 1, despite winning only his second cap against Mexico on Monday night.

Yet Green would appear to be in pole position.

He has now started eight of the last 10 England games – the absent Ben Foster claimed the other two – and was again handed the jersey for the opening 45 minutes this week.

Green went on to produce two superb saves in the first half of England's 3-1 win, attracting more praise from a clearly impressed Capello.

"It is there for you to take your chance," said Green, who was making his 10th England appearance.

"I learned a lot more because it was a tough 45 minutes.

"Mexico had a lot of possession in our half and I didn't regard it as a friendly. It was a real international game."

Green, whose West Ham future continues to be the subject of intense debate even though Capello wanted such talk to cease until after the World Cup, insists the competition between the three goalkeepers is healthy.

"In international football, chances don't come along very often," he said.

"We are all in the running and it shouldn't be any other way. There is a strong rivalry but it is something that's healthy.

"We are determined to keep pushing each other.

"But whoever plays, the other two are behind him. We are encouraging each other, which is the best thing for England," he added.