Fabio Capello picks on form, which is good news for Aaron Lennon. Not so long ago the Spurs flyer appeared totally out of the England picture, with Theo Walcott, David Beckham and Shaun Wright-Phillips ahead of him in the pecking order.
Ashley Young, nominally a left winger, has also featured ahead of Lennon in England squads this season, but the Villa man’s form has deserted him in line with his club’s fortunes, whilst Wright-Phillips and Walcott are injured. Lennon is perhaps in the sort of form that would have earned him a call above his rivals if they were all available.
There won’t be room for all of the above in England’s 2010 World Cup squad, so this pair of matches is a good chance for Lennon to stake his claim.
Lennon of course featured in the 2006 tournament, when it appeared to be only a matter of time before he took over from Beckham long-term.
He had just completed a stunning début season for Spurs and those matches in Germany seemed to represent a changing of the guard, not least when Lennon finished the infamous quarter final against Portugal on the pitch, with Beckham in tears on the sidelines.
However, things change quickly in football and Lennon’s development is a classic example of a rollercoaster career. He reached a plateau at Spurs, unable to cope with the extra attention from defenders and frustrated with his ability to play the correct final ball.
His crossing has improved this season. The occasions when he drills a cross above his colleagues’ heads have reduced in number and his running at opponents has also developed, thanks perhaps to his increased experience and new-found ease at playing on the left or in the centre behind the front two.
Goals have also started to flow, which was the one area his rivals for an England right wing berth were superior. Lennon is now calm in front of goal and has recently revealed an excellent long range shot.
Lennon has all the attributes to succeed at international level. Unfortunately so do Wright-Phillips, Walcott, Young and Beckham, which is why it is down to the man in possession to make his chance count.
Ashley Young, nominally a left winger, has also featured ahead of Lennon in England squads this season, but the Villa man’s form has deserted him in line with his club’s fortunes, whilst Wright-Phillips and Walcott are injured. Lennon is perhaps in the sort of form that would have earned him a call above his rivals if they were all available.
There won’t be room for all of the above in England’s 2010 World Cup squad, so this pair of matches is a good chance for Lennon to stake his claim.
Lennon of course featured in the 2006 tournament, when it appeared to be only a matter of time before he took over from Beckham long-term.
He had just completed a stunning début season for Spurs and those matches in Germany seemed to represent a changing of the guard, not least when Lennon finished the infamous quarter final against Portugal on the pitch, with Beckham in tears on the sidelines.
However, things change quickly in football and Lennon’s development is a classic example of a rollercoaster career. He reached a plateau at Spurs, unable to cope with the extra attention from defenders and frustrated with his ability to play the correct final ball.
His crossing has improved this season. The occasions when he drills a cross above his colleagues’ heads have reduced in number and his running at opponents has also developed, thanks perhaps to his increased experience and new-found ease at playing on the left or in the centre behind the front two.
Goals have also started to flow, which was the one area his rivals for an England right wing berth were superior. Lennon is now calm in front of goal and has recently revealed an excellent long range shot.
Lennon has all the attributes to succeed at international level. Unfortunately so do Wright-Phillips, Walcott, Young and Beckham, which is why it is down to the man in possession to make his chance count.
