FOOTBALL

GERRARD LEFT OUT OF BRAZIL BATTLE

GERRARD: Not match fit

Monday November 9,2009

By Paul Joyce

STEVEN GERRARD was last night omitted from England’s squad for the friendly with Brazil, despite being set to launch his comeback for Liverpool tonight.

England coach Fabio Capello side-stepped the potential for a major fall out with Rafa Benitez after heeding his call for “common sense” and accepting Gerrard was not totally match-fit.

Gerrard is poised to make his comeback from a groin injury in Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Birmingham tonight, but will now have two weeks to continue working on his fitness, rather than make the trip to Doha.

Capello also overlooked Chelsea’s Joe Cole, who has returned from a lengthy lay-off, but did hand call-ups to Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock, Tottenham duo Tom Huddlestone and Jermaine Jenas and Sunderland’s Darren Bent in his 24-man squad for next Saturday’s glamour showdown.

Aston Villa’s Gabriel Agbonlahor has been dropped after he started against Belarus last month, but there is a recall for club-mate Ashley Young. Jermain Defoe of Spurs is also back.

Gerrard had managed just 25 minutes of action since damaging his groin playing for England in the defeat to Ukraine last month, but has made steady progress over the last week after having an injection in his groin to tackle the inflammation that was causing him a problem.

Also missing through injury are Ashley Cole, who picked up an injury against Atletico Madrid in midweek, Rio Ferdinand, Carlton Cole and Emile Heskey, while David James’ inability to train properly after games has counted against him.

David Beckham is included, but could pull out if commitments with LA Galaxy clash.

ENGLAND SQUAD: Foster, Green, Hart; Bridge, Brown, Cahill, Johnson, Lescott, Terry, Upson, Warnock; Barry, Beckham, Carrick, Huddlestone, Jenas, Lampard, Milner, Wright-Phillips, Young; Bent, Crouch, Defoe, Rooney.