Wolves winger Matt Jarvis has been handed his first England call-up after being named in Fabio Capello’s 26-man squad for the Euro 2012 qualifier with Wales and the friendly against Ghana.
Jarvis, 24, had figured in two of Capello’s provisional squads this season, but this will be his first taste of international action after he failed to make the final cut on those occasions.
With Arsenal winger Theo Walcott ruled out through injury, Capello has handed Jarvis his chance to compete for the wide berths with Aaron Lennon and Ashley Young after an impressive season with Mick McCarthy’s team.
GROWING REPUTATION
Jarvis, who started his career with Gillingham before joining Wolves in 2007, underlined his growing reputation with a fine finish to clinch a 1-0 win over local rivals Aston Villa on Saturday.
If he is selected for either of the forthcoming games, he would become the first Wolves player to appear for England in more than two decades, since striker Steve Bull won the last of his 13 caps in October 1990.
Tottenham star Lennon is included for the first time since England’s last qualifier against Montenegro in October after missing the friendlies against France and Denmark.
Liverpool striker Andy Carroll, who impressed Capello when he made his debut in the defeat by France in November, also returns after proving his fitness for his club.
THIGH INJURY
The forward missed last month’s encounter with Denmark because of a thigh injury, but Carroll is back after starting Liverpool’s last two matches, against Braga and Sunderland.
Everton defender Phil Jagielka and Tottenham striker Peter Crouch are also included in a larger than usual squad.
Capello knows England cannot afford to drop points at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday as they try to top Group G ahead of Montenegro and the Italian will hope his decision to reappoint John Terry as captain in place of Rio Ferdinand doesn’t backfire.
Several members of the squad are said to be unhappy with the way Capello leaked the news to the media before speaking to Ferdinand.
The Manchester United defender, currently out of action with a calf injury, then declined an opportunity to speak with Capello and is said to be deeply unhappy with his failure to inform him prior to the move becoming public knowledge.
Terry had previously been stripped of the captaincy by Capello a year ago after an alleged affair with the partner of his international teammate Wayne Bridge.
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was