Richard Hercock: England are the biggest losers in tired club versus country row

For I am growing increasingly agitated by this club versus country conflict that seems to raise its ugly head a couple of times each football season.

Just like two siblings who squabble over a specific toy, the frostiness that exists between England coach Fabio Capello and some of the leading managers in the Premier League is pathetic.

The Premier League season hasn’t even kicked off yet and already it’s started. Last week Arsenal played New York Red Bulls, only for Jack Wilshere to limp off after seven minutes with an ankle injury.

That prompted his manager Arsene Wenger to throw down the first warning shot to Capello.

“It is not very serious but it is serious because they say he might be out for all of next week – it’s an ankle inflammation,” he said. “But he has not torn anything. He is a quick healer usually and a tough boy, so I hope he will be quicker than the medical prediction.

“They told me next week he might be out. If he is out next week he will not play (in Arsenal’s friendly) against Benfica, so he will certainly not play in the England game.”

I cannot imagine many other sports where a club employee would be allowed to dictate policy or selection when it comes to international competition.

Can you imagine Yorkshire’s director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon turning round to Andy Flower this week and telling him he won’t be allowed to pick cricketer Tim Bresnan because he has a sore head after celebrating his Trent Bridge achievements?

I know England’s top cricketers have central contracts, meaning there is less financial burden and responsibility to the clubs, but I like the hierarchy which cricket provides.

When the national football team fails again next summer – and before my email inbox suddenly gets flooded with angry fans, nothing would give me greater pleasure than see England actually win a tournament – the inquests will start again, but the likes of Wenger will be nowhere to be seen.

Wenger has already clashed with the England coaching staff over Wilshere, who was named in the provisional squad for this summer’s Under-21 Championships before controversially withdrawing over fears he could suffer burnout.

Of course, it is not just Wenger. His colleagues at all the top clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United and City, Tottenham and Liverpool are all guilty too.

With the lure of the Champions League millions, club football now has – in some folk’s eyes – overtaken the needs of the national side.

I pose the question, would you rather your club win its respective league, or England win next summer’s European Championships? I would hazard a guess, most fans of the top six in the Premier League would opt for their club side.

So moving on to this England game which Master Wilshere might miss out on. Now call me old fashioned but I cannot understand what use an England friendly against Holland is to anyone, just three days before the season kicks off in the Premier League.

Does Capello really need to see his squad go through the motions at Wembley when most will have their minds on a long, hard season ahead. A season which for some will have little in the way of a summer break in 2012.

Hopefully, England will be competing in the European Championships next summer in Ukraine and Poland, before some of the younger players will be turning out for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

Before the national anthems have stopped blaring out, the 2012-13 season will be upon us all. Not much rest for the international footballer.

So why a pre-season friendly on Wednesday? I know it’s a designated date on the FIFA calendar, but it’s simply wrong. I don’t see what will be learned and who benefits. In this instance, I have sympathy for the club manager who sees his squad preparations for the new season disrupted for a kickabout at Wembley on Wednesday night.

England have three more qualifying matches remaining to reach the Euro finals next summer; away to Bulgaria on September 2, returning to Wembley four days later to host Wales, before the campaign is completed with a trip to Montenegro on October 7.

Level on points with the latter nation, it means win all three games and Capello can end his time in charge of England by competing in another finals.

I expect England to win the first two matches, meaning a draw in Montenegro will probably be enough to retain top spot.

Not much of a gambler I know, but nobody can tell me the Holland match will have any real influence on the outcome of those games.

A couple of days of a team bonding session over the summer months would have had a bigger swing on what will be an interesting five weeks for Capello’s men.

At least Capello has taken the chance to have a look at a few unfamiliar faces this week, namely Danny Welbeck – who was excellent on loan at Sunderland from Old Trafford last season – and former Sheffield United full-back Kyle Walker.

With Glen Johnson hobbling out of Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Valencia on Saturday, Walker could get a much-deserved game. The Blades have produced some good defenders over the last few years – Phil Jagielka and Kyle Naughton come to mind – and Walker, now back at Tottenham after a successful loan spell at Aston Villa, has always been tipped for the top.

So as the Premier League approaches, good luck to Arsenal – they are going to need it – and may the best team win. I just hope I hear less about the club versus country spats and more about how everyone is working to achieve the best result for English football, namely a successful England side.

Now, where did I put that school calendar again?