Capello remains tight-lipped ahead of Belarus
"One for the future" Milner looks set to feature against Belarus
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By Matthew Champion. |  |
Wednesday, 14, Oct 2009 05:30
By Michael Younger.
With qualification already in the bag and the influential duo of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney absent, Fabio Capello is keeping his cards close to his chest on how much he will tinker with his lineup for the game against Belarus at Wembley tonight.
The Italian has remained tight-lipped over his possible first XI, which is set to feature a number of previously second-string squad members.
At a press conference earlier this week when questioned on whether James Milner would start, the Italian replied: "We will have to wait 24 hours.
"Milner has always played very well and is one for the future."
The only indication that Capello gave towards his squad was that despite a poor performance on Saturday, Rio Ferdinand will feature.
"Rio will play," he said.
"I have big confidence in him, he needs to play and I am sure he will get better every game."
Frank Lampard echoed his manager's sentiments, saying: "Rio's consistency, along with John, in the last four or five years puts them right at the top in centre-halves for me.
"When the big game comes you need big players, and Rio will deliver then."
With leading striker Rooney unable to feature, skipper John Terry is calling on the fringe players to step up.
He said Gabriel Agbonlahor, who, should he feature, will make his competitive debut for England, and Peter Crouch should make a name for themselves and push for a place in the squad that heads to South Africa.
"We've seen what a good player Wayne is, and he has been the heartbeat of our campaign," Terry explained.
"He will be sorely missed but it's a chance for other players to come in and cement their place on the plane to the World Cup in South Africa.
"We played Germany last year [when key players were missing] and beat them. There were some real positives from that game, the likes of Agbonlahor and Shaun Wright-Phillips.
"They can really give the manager food for thought. We know the manager is strong enough not to select us, and there is a real desire and hunger to show what we can do."
Capello has invited all 55 players who have been part of the Three Lions qualifying campaign to attend the game against Belarus on Wednesday night as a thank you for their contribution.
And the manager added: "We have invited all the players, but I'm not sure if they will all be here because they have to train on Thursday.
"We will be happy for the ones who will be here and for those who cannot make it. It is a family of the England team."