Barry and Lennon sit out England training
Published 11:50 08/10/10 By Martin Lipton
Gareth Barry and Aaron Lennon were the only two absentees from England's first training session ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro.
Manchester City midfielder Barry has been given a leave of absence by manager Fabio Capello to deal with a personal matter, although the England camp expect him to arrive at the squad's Hertfordshire base over the weekend.
And while Spurs winger Lennon, back in the squad for the first time since the World Cup, was on the coach for the short journey from The Grove Hotel near Watford to Arsenal's London Colney training ground, he stayed in the gym for work on his back while the other players were under Capello's microscope.
John Terry, Ashley Cole and Joe Cole were the first out on the training ground, fully five minutes ahead of the rest of Capello's squad, for a brief kick around before the session began.
Terry and his successor as captain, Rio Ferdinand, were then at the head of affairs for the initial jogs, with both of them aware their once guaranteed places in Capello;s first team are no longer so secure.
Ferdinand in particular is in danger of missing out at Wembley on Tuesday - and seeing Steven Gerrard retain the armband he has worn since South Africa - with Everton's Phil Jagielka having impressed his credentials on Capello.
The session represented a long-awaited first chance for Bolton striker Kevin Davies - who at 33 could become England's oldest debut-maker for 60 years - to show Capello he deserves an England cap.
Davies and the rest of the squad were also showing their support for the FA's "Football Needs" campaign, aimed at inspiring mechanics, teachers, accountants and everyone who loves the game to take the first steps to becoming grassroots coaches or referees.
