Left Back Needed: Who Wants to Step Up?

By Ryan Morrison

In the wake of newspaper allegations about a certain team-mate and a former girlfriend, Wayne Bridge has made himself unavailable for selection by England and will not travel to the World Cup Finals in South Africa this summer.

This leaves Fabio Capello with a serious selection problem as first choice left-back Ashley Cole broke his ankle in Chelsea’s 2 - 1 loss against Everton and won’t be back until May at the earliest. With the World Cup finals starting on the eleventh of June, it is unlikely he will make the squad.

So this leaves the England left-back slot up for grabs, let’s take a look at the candidates.

Leighton Baines, although a former under 21 international he is uncapped at full level, has been a regular in the Everton defence for the past two seasons. “I think Bainesy on his day is a match for any of them and I know Fabio Capello knows about him. He is certainly in and around the reckoning” David Moyes.

Steven Warnock has been capped by Capello but still very inexperienced at the top level. Warnock has performed exceptionally well for Aston Villa this season, his team have the meanest defence in the Premier League.

Joleon Lescott, the versatile defender can play either centre-half or full back and has been capped nine times by England, but has been in and out of the Manchester City team this season, having failed to recapture the form he showed at Everton last season.

Gareth Barry, the most experienced option Capello has at left-back with thirty five caps but has been playing as a holding midfielder for years now. He has been outstanding when played in midfield behind Lampard and Gerrard.

James Milner, Only twenty four years old but has been involved with the international set-up since he was sixteen, hard worker but not a natural left-back.

Ryan Morrison @ offside442.blogspot.com