World Cup qual - Green to be patient with England

Eurosport - Fri, 12 Jun 11:46:00 2009

West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green is content to play a patient waiting game as he bids to become England regular number one.

2009 England Robert Green - 0

The 29-year-old was handed his first competitive caps in the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra after first-choice David James needed surgery on a shoulder problem.

"'Jamo' has done fantastically well, and you have just got to keep plugging away for your club, waiting for chances and being ready. That is the virtue of being a goalkeeper," said Green.

"You do your utmost while someone else is playing and you just have to be ready to take that chance. I played in the two games with two clean sheets, so I can't ask for more than that. It is now just a case of being ready for whenever the next chance comes along."

Former Norwich trainee Green missed out on the 2006 World Cup after he suffered a freak groin injury when taking a goalkick in a warm-up game for the 'B' side against Belarus, before then falling down the pecking order behind the likes of Paul Robinson, Scott Carson, Chris Kirkland and Joe Hart.

Green, though, saw the funny side of a keeper's lot when he once sported a pair of gloves with "England's No.6" stitched into the lining.

While Green did not get much of a work-out in the 6-0 thrashing of Andorra at Wembley on Wednesday night, and was cheered after finally touching the ball almost 25 minutes into the game, the Hammers stopper will hope to feature again in the next England squad for the friendly in Holland on August 12.

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 4 of 4

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  1. Greeno greeno!

    From stupot, on Mon 15 Jun 6:53PM

  2. robinson's great performancs at the end of the year­ make him no.1 for me

    From dianesellars, on Sun 14 Jun 8:38AM

  3. i agree with comment no1. hope he continues to improve­ his performances for west ham and secure his England­ position. he has been England's no1 for a while in­ my opinion.

    From timfarrell538, on Fri 12 Jun 6:30PM

  4. on currant form green is already no.1 with­ james's injury and age i think we've seen the­ last of him. green needs games now to get him ready­ for world cup. capello must now stick with him

    From stephen.baxter18, on Fri 12 Jun 3:38PM
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