Carrick aims to seize England opportunity
MICHAEL CARRICK is desperate for the chance to impress boss Fabio Capello in Ukraine on Saturday – and play a part in helping England maintain their 100 per cent World Cup qualifying record.
The Manchester United midfielder has continually struggled to hold down a regular starting place in the England midfield, often playing second fiddle to Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry.
But with England already having qualified for next summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa with eight straight wins under their belts, Capello might be tempted to experiment with his fringe players, leaving Carrick hopeful of a rare start.
“I want to play for my country and hopefully it’s an opportunity to get a bit of a chance,” the former West Ham and Spurs star said. “To pull on an England shirt is not a given. There’s good competition, we’re all playing at the top level so everyone’s pushing to be involved and the results speak for themselves.
“It makes it easier for individuals to shine so, if I get the shirt, it’s up to me to try to keep it.”