Ledley King's personal trainer to get World Cup call - Exclusive
Published 23:00 10/05/10 By John Cross
Fabio Capello is set to name a 31-man England squad today - after an amazing call-up for Ledley King's personal fitness trainer.
King will be in Capello's provisional 30-man squad and he is likely to be joined by Tottenham's rehabilitation and conditioning coach Nathan Gardiner.
It shows the incredible lengths that Capello is prepared to go to ensure King is fit for South Africa, despite the 29-year-old's chronic knee problems.
Capello is desperate to take King to South Africa - as first revealed in Mirror Sport on April 23 - even though the Spurs defender will not be training with his England team-mates.
Gardiner has devised a fitness programme for King - including daily swimming sessions in Spurs chairman Daniel Levy's pool - to keep him fit and will liaise with FA doctor Ian Beasley throughout the tournament.
Capello has made an exception for King to his usual strict rule of not picking half-fit players and Spurs will give their blessing for Gardiner to go with the centre-half to the World Cup.
England boss Capello said yesterday: "I'm very pleased because he has played four games in 15 days. He looks good."
Capello is anxious that King will be able to recover between games should he be needed for England with Manchester United Rio Ferdinand's fitness a continued concern for the England boss.
That also explains the remarkable call for Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who is set to be in today's 30-man squad.
