Alan Curbishley cannot understand why West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green has been left out of the England squad to face Switzerland on Wednesday.Green has been in excellent form this year for West Ham, who boast the best defensive record in the Premier League outside the so-called big four.

However, it looks like the 28-year-old's performances have gone unnoticed by new England manager Fabio Capello, who has opted to call up David James, Scott Carson and Chris Kirkland for the friendly international at Wembley.

Curbishley is at a loss as to why Green, whose only England came cap when he made an appearance from the substitutes' bench against Colombia in 2005, has failed to make the squad.

Curbishley quipped that the mild-mannered goalkeeper does not get noticed because he elects to stay out of the spotlight, and joked that maybe Green needs to make himself more "spectacular" by dying his hair.

"There are some players who got picked for the initial 30-man squad who probably didn't think they were anywhere near it," said Curbishley.

"Some players were expecting to be in there and some were hoping to be in there. I don't know where Robert falls in that - probably between hoping and expecting.

"Since I've been at the club he's been the same throughout. There's been lots of talk that he should be included [in the England squad], but Greeny has been consistent whenever I've spoken to him.

"All he will do is play as well as he can and if it the situation changes, it changes. I don't think he will see it any other way.

"His performances haven't gone unnoticed, we know that and he just has to keep going. Matthew Upson has managed to get in the squad due to his performances.

"I think Greeny perhaps is not spectacular enough; he just gets on with playing football. He comes off with another clean sheet or makes a great save to get a point.

"Perhaps he's got to dye his hair to make himself seem more spectacular."

Green faces Kirkland, a surprise inclusion in Capello's squad, on Saturday as West Ham travel to play Wigan.

But Curbishley does not believe Green will hold any grudges against his opposite number.

He is also backing the former Norwich goalkeeper to make himself an Upton Park legend, such as former player and current goalkeeper coach Ludek Miklosko, should he keep up his level of performance.

"I don't think being left out of the England squad is going to change his mentality. He'll just take it on the chin and get on with it," added Curbishley.

"There is not any part of his game he needs to work on, he's just been very, very consistent for us.

"Once he gets the nod from England he will go on from there.

"It's still very early - he's only been here a couple of years, so there's a long way to go for Robert Green.

"When the fans start singing the same song they sung to Ludo, then he'll be all right. Ludo's in folklore here."

Curbishley will give late fitness tests to Craig Bellamy and Julien Faubert ahead of the Wigan game, while Nolberto Solano should also be included in the squad.

Bobby Zamora, James Collins, Nigel Quashie, Calum Davenport and Kieron Dyer are all ruled out through injury.

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