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August
22, 2002 (Thursday) from Jonathan Woodgate Club
Woody
recall is down to Tel
JONATHAN WOODGATE'S hopes of winning his
first cap under Sven Goran
Eriksson could be hit if he fails to dislodge Lucas Radebe from the
Leeds line-up on Saturday.
Woodgate should be fit for the game at Premiership new boys West Brom
after missing the big kick-off on Saturday with a gashed knee picked
up in a pre-season match against Rangers.
Radebe deputised for Woodgate against Manchester City and his man-of-
the-match display means the 22-year-old may have to settle for a
place on the bench this weekend.
Boss Terry Venables has been impressed by the way Radebe has battled
back from a career-threatening knee problem and is torn between
sticking with the South African international and bringing back
Woodgate.
Woodgate hopes to get the nod from Venables and he is desperate to
play now that Eriksson is free to pick him.
He has served his 100-hour community service sentence after being
found guilty of affray for his part in the attack on Asian student
Sarfraz Najeib.
Eriksson is expected to name Woodgate when he announces his squad on
September 2 for the friendly against Portugal four days later and the
Swede is keen to have a closer look at him.
But Woodgate knows his chances of winning what would be only his
second cap - his first was under Kevin Keegan against Bulgaria in
1999 - could be jeopardised if he is not starting for Leeds.
Venables is aware of how desperate Woodgate is to relaunch his
England career, but claims Leeds' interests must come first.
"My responsibility is to take care of Leeds, and what happens with
England has to come after that," he said.
"They have both done very well. Lucas has played exceptionally well,
both on Saturday against Man City and before that in the friendly
against Rangers.
"Jonathan, too, is an exceptional player so we will just have to wait
and see who plays on Saturday."
Either Woodgate or Radebe will be disappointed come Saturday evening,
but one man who wins either way is Venables. He is delighted to have
such fierce competition for places, especially after losing Rio
Ferdinand to Manchester United in the summer.
Venables claims he needs such competition if Leeds are finally to end
their 10-year wait for a trophy this season.
He said: "This is what it's all about these days and every club knows
they need pretty big squads if they are going to be successful. Just
look at Manchester United.
"There will be a lot of our squad who will be disappointed if they
don't play, and not just Jonathan or Lucas."
Goalkeeper Nigel Martyn last night declared he had no regrets about
asking for a break from life at Leeds even though it has cost him his
first-team place. Venables has opted for 22-year-old Paul Robinson as
his first-choice keeper after a series of fine pre-season
performances in Australia. England goalkeeper Martyn missed the trip
Down Under because he asked for time off to recover from the domestic
season and the World Cup.
He said: "I don't regret it. I didn't feel physically or mentally
ready for a trip of that magnitude with the distance covered and the
flights. I would have been doing it after a long campaign.
"If I had gone on that trip I'd have gone on it knackered. I'm happy
with my decision. I feel sharper and brighter now than ever."
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