Gareth Barry, who suffered ligament damage to his ankle, was firmly in Fabio Capello's England squad for this summer's Big PowWow (can't be the Big Dance...NCAA basketball has that one). But last week's injury has now reportedly put Barry out for up to seven weeks. So who to replace him...
Owen Hargreaves.
WHAT? Owen Hargreaves, whose dodgy knees have kept him out of the United lineup for 18 months?
Owen saw his first action since injurying his knee in United's 0-1 win over Sunderland last week. Hargo played for a grand total of 26 seconds.
England has been on EVERYONE'S radar as a top contender to take home the goods in South Africa. Who could blame them? With players like Rooney, Ferdinand, Lampard, *coughs* Terry, *coughs harder* Gerrard, *gasps for air* Ashley Cole and company, the experience is vast and the skills...well...vaster.
But several of these names have had injury problems in recent months. Rooney's ankle problem, then thigh strain. Rio's back problems. Gerrard has had a few niggling problems, Ashley Cole has a broken leg and broken heart, and of course Terry's personal problems have been well-documented in this blog. Now Gareth Barry has thrown another wrench into Fabio's Fab Football Club.
I find it hard to believe that Owen is the answer to this pitch conundrum. He was promised to return to first-team action back in October...then it was delayed, delayed again...again and again...until I thought he might be shufflin' behind a walker with the rest of the OAPs by the time he actually saw some action.
Could he really be fit in time to play in Africa? It's not like it's pre-season stuff, where they run you out against the local Kiwanis Club team. This is the World Cup we're talking about.
I'm a Hargo fan, and if he's ready then I'm all for it. But I think Fabio would be taking a huge risk to include Owen in the traveling team if he's going to re-injure his knees. I'm sure United are thinking the same thing. After they've spent a gillion pounds rehabilitating him (Dr. Steadman was his surgeon...no cheap docs in Vail), the thought of him never returning to play for United would be too much.
But then I've always pictured Sir Alex watching the non-club matches of his "starlets" with his best friend...Johnnie Walker.
Fabio certainly has a huge decision ahead of him. Who would YOU pick? There's no pressure...only the whole world will be watching.
Hargo in national team play
Well, Sunday is it. I have faith in my Reds.
:)
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