Shock Call Up for League One Keeper

In preparation for upcoming friendlies with the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, England manager Fabio Capello is making a few waves. First, he came out in his first English-language press conference and put his foot down on club vs. country, essentially saying that rested or not, if he wants players from the Champions League finalists, he will have them. He then moved on to call up a fourth keeper, casting his net all the way down to newly promoted League One side Peterborough United.

Sorry, Scott Carson. Better luck next time, Robert Green. Oh, and Paul Robinson … if you were thinking that three freak injuries might get you back into that England shirt? Capello has spoken – not going to happen. Apparently, there’s been some sort of injury to one of England’s three squad keepers (Joe Hart, Chris Kirkland and starter David James), and Fabio has picked Joe Lewis, starting goalie for Peterborough, to step up. Lewis came to The Posh in January, on a club record £400,000 transfer from Norwich, where he had been loaned out around the League for the past few seasons. His only national team experience? A single half between the posts for the U21 side, just nine days ago, when he came in for Hart in England’s 2-0 win over Wales.

Along with the call up comes a message from Capello to the now three keepers competing to take over David James’ #1 jersey: No one is safe, and no one is preordained. I would have loved to see the odds on the Cabbage Man going down to League One for a keeper. Joe Hart must be especially nervous over this call up, since his status as England’s Future may be in serious jeopardy from the year-younger Lewis. It remains to be seen, though, if a relatively untested 20-year-old can survive the harsh treatment of English fans and press, who don’t exactly have a sterling record of forgiving mistakes from England keepers.

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Category: World Football