Boab 73 Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Jimmy Bullard has been included in the England squad for the first time for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers away to Andorra and Croatia. The Fulham midfielder gets his chance with Steven Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick all out injured. Michael Owen and Jonathan Woodgate have been left out and Portsmouth's Peter Crouch misses out on a place again. Robert Green and Joleon Lescott return and David Beckham and Theo Walcott are also in Fabio Capello's 23-man party. Walcott is one of four strikers named by the Italian, along with Emile Heskey, Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe. But Owen was omitted despite Capello watching him from the stands at the Emirates during Newcastle's defeat by Arsenal on Saturday. Glen Johnson is included as cover for Wes Brown at right-back with Micah Richards, who was originally chosen for the under-21 side, another injury victim. Bullard's call-up completes a remarkable recovery from a career-threatening cruciate ligament injury which he suffered almost exactly two years ago. He was out of the game for 15 months before returning to play a crucial part in Fulham's Premier League survival last season. Speaking before the squad was announced, Capello told the FA's website that no-one was guaranteed a starting place, saying: "No-one is untouchable, not the captain, the vice-captain, no-one." England play Andorra in Barcelona's Olympic Stadium at 1900 BST on Saturday evening and then travel to Zagreb for their second qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday, 10 September at 2000 BST. England squad to play Andorra and Croatia: Robinson (Blackburn), James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham); Lescott (Everton), Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Upson (West Ham); Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Bullard (Fulham), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Downing (Middlesbrough), Bentley (Tottenham), Jenas (Tottenham); Walcott (Arsenal), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth), Heskey (Wigan). http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/i...als/7591011.stm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ibroxblue 122 Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 They look a bit light on strikers to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff 245 Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Don't know how he can leave out Crouch? The guy is a good player and has formed a pretty decent partnership with Defoe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
papaguy51 912 Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Great news, Bullard deserves it. Everyone should YouTube 'Bullard', some of the shit he gets up to is fucking brilliant Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueben_d 40 Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Bullard is a quality player, been blighted with injury last couple of years so its a bit of a surprise to see him in the national squad Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSuedeSambas 53,781 Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Absolutely delighted with this As a Wigan fan I have followed Bullards career for a number of years and I think that for him to come back from a career threatening injury, be the main man that got Fulham out of trouble and then get a call up for the full England squad shows that there is so much more to him than just being a joker. I'm actually tempted to put my old Bullard sig back up in celebration Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenose_72 198 Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Well done to him Did well to return from that horrific injury and fully deserves his call up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOLUWDC 1 Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 why leave out Owen and include Heskey and why isn't Crouch included. They're strikers aren't good enough Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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