England Watch - Kieran Richardson
Richardson was part of the first England team to play at the new Wembley
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Thursday, 29, Mar 2007 05:50
Historically, England have had problems filling the left midfield slot in their established 4-4-2 formation.
Not so anymore.
Chelsea's Joe Cole, although currently on the long-term injury list, is a flair player in a top-class Premiership outfit and Stewart Downing, who is the natural replacement for Cole, has shown glimpses of the class of deliveries he can provide when given the opportunity.
Then there is Manchester United youngster Kieran Richardson, who is no stranger to the international set-up himself.
Although he has made only fleeting appearances for the senior side, he is an established regular in the under-21s set-up when he is not selected by head coach Steve McClaren for the full squad.
So what chance is there that the talented winger will get the nod in 2010? Will he oust Cole or Downing in the meantime? Will he even get an extended run in the first-team at Old Trafford? InTheNews' Alistair Potter gives it some thought.
Name: Kieran Edward Richardson
Position: Left midfield
Club: Manchester United
Age by South Africa 2010: 25
Greenwich-born Richardson may have been born in the capital, but he is Manchester United-bred in footballing terms.
Although he began his career as part of local club West Ham United's youth setup, it wasn't long before the Old Trafford scouts spotted this prodigiously talented youngster and offered him the chance to move north and work under Sir Alex Ferguson.
That chance was duly accepted and he had soon been signed to a professional contract and was picking up accolades as part of the famous United youth team.
Richardson was part of the team that picked up the FA Youth Cup in 2003 - and the left-winger added his name to the scoresheet in the final to boost his rising stock even further.
In that same season, Richardson made his first-team debut for United in the Champions League against Olympiakos and from the beginning of the 2003/04 season he has remained on the fringes of Ferguson's starting XI and matchday squads.
Nevertheless the big break expected for the midfielder is yet to materialise, having only played a bit-part role for the past three seasons.
It was this lack of first-team action that persuaded Ferguson to seek a loan move for his young charge, and this duly came as the wily Scotsman managed to bag him both Premiership experience and a character-building stint with Bryan Robson's West Brom.
Richardson would experience the highs and lows of top-flight football at the Hawthorns, as, under the guidance of the former United and England captain, the Midlands club became the first team in Premiership history to escape relegation after being bottom at Christmas.
During his time in the Black Country, Richardson made 12 appearances, scoring three goals, and got a real taste of full-time involvement at a top club.
It is this taster which has served him well to keep going through times in the wilderness at Old Trafford, as Ferguson is still to place his full faith in the under-21s star.
Richardson already has four full caps for England, including a brace of goals scored on his debut against the USA in Chicago in a 2-1 win during the summer tour of 2005.
And in his several games with the under-21s, the left-winger has shown glimpses of the talent that has seen him called up to the full squad on more than one occasion.
So what of 2010? Well, if he continues his football education par excellence at Old Trafford then there should be no stopping him becoming a regular for both club and country.
The problem is, during the first few years of his development he has failed to fully blossom and must make the step up from prospect to genuine talent.
Nevertheless, with the right guidance, he should at least be a solid performer and will do a job on the left - a role he is more than capable of filling at present. With a bit more hard work though, he could be another name to add to the talent pool of England's rejuvenated left-wing.
England's 2010 World Cup squad
*Players in bold - tickets to South Africa booked already
Goalkeepers
Paul Robinson
Possibles: Chris Kirkland, Ben Foster, Rob Green, Scott Carson
Defenders
John Terry, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher
Possibles: Glen Johnson, Joleon Lescott, Micah Richards, Ledley King, Michael Dawson, Anton Ferdinand, Leighton Baines, Justin Hoyte, Curtis Davies, Wes Brown, Phil Bardsley, Michael Mancienne
Midfielders
Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick
Possibles: Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone, Nigel Reo-Coker, Lee Cattermole, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stewart Downing, Giles Barnes, James Morrison, Kieran Richardson
Forwards
Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen
Possibles: David Nugent, Theo Walcott, James Vaughan, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Darren Bent, Dean Ashton, Cameron Jerome