Michael Carrick must fear for his England World Cup place
Michael Carrick insists he is not too nice for his own good but the Manchester United man should fear for his World Cup place.
While the likeable Geordie is a mainstay of Sir Alex Ferguson's side and rightly points out that he plays in all the really big games for United, it is now three years since his last taste of competitive action for England - and that in a game he will not want to recall .
The big problem for Carrick is that most of Fabio Capello's squad picks itself.
Capello's plan is to take a squad containing seven defenders, eight midfielders and five strikers to South Africa, although Theo Walcott is likely to be considered as one of the front men.
Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, David Beckham, Gareth Barry and Aaron Lennon can already be certain of their places in the squad, which leaves just three spots up for grabs.
Capello loves James Milner's versatility , despite the Aston Villa man's lack of international experience, while Joe Cole, absent from the international scene for the past 12 months, is likely to be picked as either Gerrard's replacement on the left or to play behind the strikers if the system is tweaked.
That leaves just one place, and even if the likes of Ashley Young, Jermaine Jenas, David Bentley, Stewart Downing are omitted, the shadow of Owen Hargeaves is hanging over Carrick.
If his Old Trafford team-mate can return to fitness - and the Canadian-born midfielder has been pencilled in for a United return in the next month or so - then his all-round game could be fatal for Carrick's chances.
Carrick may bring a patient, probing approach in midfield, but Capello's blueprint is all about hustle and bustle, winning the ball high up the pitch - as England did so well against Croatia at Wembley last month - and swiftly transferring to Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey, Gerrard and the wide right man.
Hargreaves, by contrast, can fill in at right-back - obviating the need for Capello to select a defined deputy for Glen Johnson - as well as play in the holding role or as a midfield hustler, while his dead-ball prowess is another ace in his pack.
If Carrick misses out, it will be a harsh call. But Capello doesn't care about that.
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