Brilliant news for Stephen Warnock tonight with him receiving his first call-up to the full England squad. Also in the squad is Chris Kirkland, Liverpool’s ‘keeper currently on loan at West Brom. Carragher and Gerrard complete the Liverpool representation in the squad. Liverpool target Michael Owen is also included, although he’s suspended for the first of the two games being played by England.
Kirkland’s appearance in the squad has been helped in a major way by the poor performance from former Reds ‘keeper David James in England’s recent friendly defeat to Denmark. Ericsson said: "Chris Kirkland is a brilliant prospect who has suffered badly with injuries, but he is now started playing regularly again, so I feel the time is right to have a good look at him."
There’s also a chance that Jamie Carragher will be used as a right-back for his national team, with the Swedish coach saying: "Right-back is an issue. I know Jamie Carragher and Phil Neville don’t play for their clubs but they can do the job. Luke Young is also doing very well at the moment."
He also spoke about the opposite full-back position: "I am going to take Stephen Warnock. We don’t have that many left-backs and Wayne Bridge has still to come back." In fact this call-up caps a great turn-around for Stephen who was bitterly disappointed to miss out on a Champions League winners medal in May, and also a trip on the open-top bus tour of the city the following day. He recently signed a new deal at Anfield as well as finding himself picked as first-choice left-back in the opening two games of the Premiership. His experience for Liverpool in European competition will stand him in good stead for England.
Gerrard is in the squad but whether he plays remains to be seen – he was unfit for Liverpool’s Super Cup victory against CSKA Moscow on Friday night. He may be fit for the second game, against Northern Ireland on September 7th, but is more doubtful for the first game against Wales on September 3rd.
Full Squad:
Robinson (Tottenham), Green (Norwich), Kirkland (Liverpool, on loan at West Brom)
Young (Charlton), Warnock (Liverpool), P Neville (Everton), A Cole (Arsenal), Carragher (Liverpool), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (Birmingham)
Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), J Cole (Chelsea), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Jenas (Newcastle), Carrick (Tottenham), Richardson (Man Utd)
Owen (Real Madrid), Rooney (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham), A Johnson (Crystal Palace), Bent (Charlton)