Stephen Warnock has one final opportunity to book himself a place in the last 23 for the World Cup but with Baines seemingly preferred by Capello he doesn’t hold out much hope.
Warnock is third choice at the moment behind Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines, although how that can be the case given Baines’ performance against Mexico is anyone’s guess – but it does leave the Japan friendly as Warnock’s final shot to impress and if he does get the chance then he seriously needs to return to his early season form and not the performances we saw as the season drew to a close.
Quoted on the E&S Warnock said:
‘I knew it was going to be difficult because Baines has done well. It’s been good, really exciting and I think the lads are looking forward to the World Cup’
As for his opinions on making the final 23, he added:
‘I probably wasn’t expecting to be in there, if I’m looking at it from the last game with Baines playing against Egypt I thought it would be difficult to get in the squad. It just wasn’t to be the other night.
‘You just need to try to get on the pitch to show what you can do but we’ll just wait and see what happens at the weekend.’
Hopefully Warnock will get the chance against Japan, but you can’t but feel the last month or so of the season where his form wasn’t up to standard has let him down. He absolutely has excuses such as tiredness and he appeared to be playing on through a knock but if he doesn’t make the final 23 he can still look on the season as an improvement in personal terms, he’s broke into the mind of Capello and he’s of an age where it’s not his last World Cup so next season he can look to unseat Baines properly, especially as I can’t imagine Bridge (who I’ve never seen what the fuss is about anyway) coming back into the fold any time soon.
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