Green leaps from England No 6 to No 1

West Ham’s Robert Green’s journey from self-styled “England No 6” to the nation’s first-choice No 1 is likely to be completed next month. The West Ham United stopper is in line to start England’s World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra, on June 6 and 10. Yester i reported that David James was ruled out as well as Ben Foster. James is now to have shoulder surgery to be fit for the start of next season.

England head coach Fabio Capello could also recall Blackburn’s Paul Robinson to his squad after the former England goalkeeper played an important role in steering Blackburn Rovers away from relegation this season.

Green is now in pole position to take over from James. The 29-year-old stopper has made a good impression in training despite winning only one cap under the Italian, playing for 45 minutes in the 2-0 friendly international defeat by Spain in February, when he conceded one of the goals say the Daily Mail. 

The Paper also think that Scott Carson is close to a return.

Capello has made it quite clear he will not pick players who are not playing for their clubs so that would rule out Joe Hart, the under-21s stopper has not played a Barclays Premier League match since January when Shay Given signed for Manchester City.

The former Norwich City goalkeeper had to wait four years between his first cap, a second-half appearance in a friendly against Colombia in 2005, and his second against Spain.

The England manager ignored him entirely for his first year in charge, leading Green to become so exasperated that he wore his Sells Aqua Wrap gloves with the words “England’s No 6” printed into them for a Premier League match against Birmingham City last season, the first occasion on which he was watched by the England manager!!!!

Capello must have been impressed with Robinson’s performances as Blackburn have climbed to safety, especially as he appears to have lost some weight and improved his general level of fitness. Robinson, 29, has not played for his country since being blamed for Russia’s winner in the European Championship qualifying defeat in Moscow 18 months ago, but has been named in several of Capello’s squads and could return to the starting line-up if Green fails to make the most of his opportunity.

Capello is bracing himself for a confrontation with several Premier League managers before naming his squad for the World Cup double- header next week because he fears some will seek to withdraw their players, blaming injuries.