World Cup qual - Agbonlahor in for injured Bent

Eurosport - Wed, 01 Apr 08:58:00 2009

Fabio Capello has called Gabriel Agbonlahor into the England squad to face Ukraine on Wednesday after Darren Bent was ruled out injured.

2009 England training Fabio Capello Darren Bent - 0

Tottenham striker Bent (pictured with Capello) - himself a late call-up - limped out of training on Tuesday morning, the third front player to be sidelined.

Emile Heskey (hamstring) and Carlton Cole (thigh) pulled out after sustaining injuries in Saturday's 4-0 win against Slovakia.

Peter Crouch also came off at Wembley but has recovered and Capello confirmed he will start up front alongside Wayne Rooney against Ukraine.

"(Bent) was feeling more pain in the warm-up this morning and stopped. I have called up Agbonlahor but I will start with Peter Crouch in attack," Capello said

Agbonlahor has struggled for form recently, scoring just once in his last 17 games, as Aston Villa have faded into fifth place in the Premier League.

He has been promoted from the U21 squad and could make his third appearance for the senior side.

"He has been training very well for the last few days and so I chose him for this game. The door is still open for Michael Owen and all the England players," said Capello.

Rio Ferdinand looks set to play after taking part in training. The Manchester United defender has been feeling a slight aggravation in a back problem that ruled him out for a month earlier this season.

But after being left out of Saturday's friendly win over Slovakia as a precaution, Ferdinand managed some light training on Monday and was at Arsenal's London Colney complex 24 hours later as England were put through their paces by coach Fabio Capello.

If Ferdinand is fit it would allow him to line up alongside skipper John Terry in central defence for the first time since the September victory over Croatia, since when Matthew Upson has been a stand-in for one or the other in four of the last five games, with Phil Jagielka winning his debut in last month's defeat to Spain.

Shaun Wright-Phillips, who also missed Saturday's game, was able to train after an ankle injury.

Prior to training Wayne Rooney collected the England Player of the Year award for 2008, although he will be more interested in maintaining a fabulous scoring record of seven goals in his last four internationals as he wins his 50th cap.

With four successive wins in their Group Six campaign already, England know victory against Ukraine, the only side they have yet to face, would see them put one foot into next year's finals in South Africa only halfway through their fixtures.

However, Capello sounded a cautious note, saying: "It will be a very dangerous game for us. They play very well on the counter-attack and we must be totally focused during the game. They have played very well in all the games I have studied and it will be a very tough game tomorrow."

Alex Chick + TeamTalk / Eurosport

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  2. oh great, we got that headless chicken up front who­ runs but dnt have a brain, dnt get me wrong pace to­ burn but no ability, why dnt u go and become a sprinter­ gab? help us all

    From William, on Wed 1 Apr 11:28AM

  3. We need Donneysbeck on here to add some much wanted­ humour

    From laboca123, on Wed 1 Apr 10:13AM

  4. donneysbeck always get a lot of thumbs down and all­ comment goes into hiding. practically no one read his­ comment. I tried to but can never put everything­ together.

    From c, on Wed 1 Apr 9:58AM

  5. listen capello if rio has been out for a month and hes­ playing tonight why not call up owen say ur sorry and­ let him play u muppet

    From footy mad, on Wed 1 Apr 7:24AM

  6. donneysbeck is very annoying.
    Does this forum have a­ moderator? Or is it just the moderators don't know­ how to ban.

    From Moussa, on Wed 1 Apr 1:33AM

  7. Ireland were only any good when they were the England B­ team, and with an English manager.

    From laboca123, on Wed 1 Apr 12:15AM

  8. Donneysbeck. jewfonciyasheg?

    From debbieh76, on Tue 31 Mar 11:49PM

  9. fox boy - u lot have never won ANYTHING -just like the­ ROI - so neither of you have the right to have an­ opinion on a sport that we invented and you try to­ copy...........

    From Terry D, on Tue 31 Mar 10:51PM

  10. he is the april fool(post 100) - he's been let out­ of his padded cell to enjoy his one day of freedom a­ year lol

    From Terry D, on Tue 31 Mar 10:32PM

  11. Is that the best you can do? hahahaha
    I think you need­ to lay off the crack if you think ROI are feared by any­ team in the top 30 of world football.
    Will you shut up­ after Italy school you on Wednesday?

    From i am a teacup, on Tue 31 Mar 10:22PM

  12. lmfao "i'm right", April fools is­ tomorrow...

    From i am a teacup, on Tue 31 Mar 10:06PM

  13. you'll only be cut up with jealousy fox boy- about­ what a great footballing nation we are compared to the­ scots - why don't you go on the scots page and talk­ about your world cup hopes - or should i say no­ hope!!!!!!!!!!

    From Terry D, on Tue 31 Mar 9:51PM

  14. good night fox boy - i want to talk about­ England!!!!!!!!!

    From Terry D, on Tue 31 Mar 9:35PM

  15. sirstevejones16 The worlds most hated race are The­ likes of you.SORE LOSERS.

    From kuledX, on Tue 31 Mar 9:30PM

  16. Bolton are @#$% and so is Davis glad this weirdo is not­ the manager!

    From nickreber, on Tue 31 Mar 9:30PM

  17. donneysbeck, you have sheer talent, hoo do ye do it?­ been watchin Rab C Nesbit a bit teeeeee moch??? very­ funny

    From mike, on Tue 31 Mar 8:43PM

  18. I agree with the kevin davies comment but if anelka was­ english he still wouldn't have been picked for­ england because of the bolton connection! Its terrible­ to think that there is a bias against bolton wanderers­ in general. Kevin Nolan is now at newcastle i bet if he­ played the same as that first season bolton were in the­ premiership beating man utd arsenal and liverpool, he­ will now be in the england squad starting every game­ ahead of barry.
    I must conceed that at bolton there­ is turmoil between the fans and the manager and the­ results are not the best but portsmouths are worse and­ peter crouch is still picked even when injured!­
    Everyone has seen what Davies can do in the premier­ league imagine the game against andora when england­ were intimidated, Davies'passion and commitment­ would have made andorra intimidated.
    Davies can do­ everything that heskey does but stays fit and SCORES­ GOALS!!! Come on fabio there is nothing to lose and it­ is not a gamble

    From Antony, on Tue 31 Mar 8:21PM

  19. donnesbeck,can you stop writting bull....,and be normal­ like others in this chat.

    From marti1700, on Tue 31 Mar 8:15PM

  20. Donneysbeck, would you happen to be of Scottish descent­ ?

    From jacqueline270, on Tue 31 Mar 7:36PM
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