Commemorated as England’s finest goal-scorer before kick-off, his detractors would describe his honour as the last hurrah of a fading force, rather than recognition of his enduring status as the nation’s deadliest weapon.
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“It’s never been easier to win an England call-up”, the former England and Liverpool defender said.
Roy Hodgson was seriously considering calling up the prolific front man before a crippling cruciate ligament injury playing against Stoke brought a cruel halt to his soar-away start to life in the Premier League.
England play Spain and then France next month with Germany to follow, games that will provide a far more accurate gauge of progress than the current qualifying romp.
Hodgson took umbrage at Carragher’s criticism on the eve of the match in Vilnius. When we played Slovenia we had Jordan Henderson, Fabien Delph and Jack Wilshere.
And Hodgson has made a point of telling the teenager it is likely he will drop down to the under-21s for the next set of internationals.
“It is pretty obvious now I have named him captain that Phil Jagielka will take the place of Gary Cahill”, he said.
“Yes, I really feel an important part of this squad and game by game am hoping to stamp my authority on the pitch”, he said.
Jack Butland has already been confirmed as goalkeeper and Jagielka, who will wear the armband, has called on the squad’s reserve players to prove they should be in contention for the upcoming friendlies with Spain and France, as well as the Euro 2016 finals.
England: Hart, Clyne, Cahill, Smalling, Bertrand, Milner, Barkley (Alli 88), Walcott (Vardy 83), Lallana (Oxlade-Chamberlain 73), Sterling, Kane.
Jagielka, 33, will be earning his 38th cap on Monday in a game to be played on an artificial surface. Theo Walcott scored against the Estonians but is expected to sit out the Lithuania game, so Harry Kane and Andros Townsend could feature.
“Our younger players are a year older and a year more experienced”. Estonia now has only 10 points in 9 matches with a goal difference of minus 4 in Euro 2016 qualifying, and they are certainly not one of the top European teams. “People will have to work very hard to break into the group now”.
Since their misery in Brazil, England have embarked on a 13-match unbeaten streak and, while a few of their wins have been achieved with less than impressive displays, Walcott wants the much maligned national team to be shown a little respect.
“I know they have the quality and talent I’m looking for”.
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The Spanish were in control, but failed to convert possession into chances and they had another setback just after the half hour when Morata was also forced out through injury to be replaced by Paco Alcacer. “I thought his decision-making was very good [against Estonia]”.
