Capello Calls Almunia Too Spanish, But Finds Young Perfecto For Friendly Start

England manager Fabio Capello yesterday confirmed that Ashley Young would replace the injured Steven Gerrard in his starting lineup for tonight’s friendly against Holland.

The Liverpool captain withdrew from the squad yesterday morning as a precaution after reporting for international duty with a tight groin and has returned to his club.

Aston Villa winger Young will take Gerrard’s place on the left-hand side of midfield and will operate as more of an orthodox winger than his Liverpool counterpart.

Young has been in and out of Capello’s squads but has won four of his five caps under the Italian, but has been limited to a substitute’s role on each occasion.

This will be Young’s first chance to start a game for his country and he will be eager to mark his mark as the No. 1 alternative on the left-hand side behind Gerrard and ahead of new club teammate Stewart Downing.

Downing has been a regular in Capello’s squad, starting on four occasions with a further three substitute appearances, but is currently sidelined with an ankle injury and not expected to return until December.

Theo Walcott is believed to be a doubtful starter for England this evening and if ruled out his place on the right-hand side of midfield will most likely go to either David Beckham or Shaun Wright-Phillips, with James Milner an outsider to win his first full cap from the outset.

Beckham is generally expected to get the nod with Capello keen to see whether the former England captain will still be an effective option for next year’s World Cup when the former captain will be 35.

Emile Heskey is expected to partner Wayne Rooney up front, but West Ham’s Carlton Cole looks set to feature at some point as his replacement with Capello eager to cast his eye over the striker at the top level.

Robert Green will retain his place in goal for the third consecutive game in the continued absence of David James and Manchester United’s Ben Foster, who withdrew from the squad on Monday and was replaced by Joe Hart.

Meanwhile, Capello effectively ruled out the possibility of selecting Arsenal’s Manuel Almunia for the national side, simply stating “Almunia, for me, is Spanish.”

The Spanish-born ‘keeper qualifies for British citizenship having spent five years residence in the UK and had expressed his eagerness to pursue an international career with England.

However, as reported in The Guardian today, Almunia would have to surrender his passport in order to process his citizenship application which would leave him unavailable to travel abroad for up to three months, ruling him out of any Champions League away games should Arsenal qualify.

Elsewhere England’s Under-21s held their Dutch counterparts to a goalless draw in Groningen last night. Seventeen-year-old Jack Wilshere made his debut at this level in Stuart Pearce’s side’s first outing since the final of the UEFA Under-21 Championships this summer.

Probable England XI to face Holland tonight

Green – Johnson, Ferdinand, Terry (c), A. Cole – Beckham, Barry, Lampard, Young – Rooney, Heskey