Don't play Scott Parker against Ghana, say West Ham

Retained: West Ham are angry that Scott Parker hasn't been released by England
Henry Swarbrick11 April 2012

Scott Parker is set to start for England against Ghana tomorrow, despite West Ham being "disappointed" that their inspirational midfielder was not among the players released by Fabio Capello after the 2-0 win over Wales.

The coach has allowed Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, Chelsea trio John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole, plus Tottenham's Michael Dawson to rejoin their clubs.

Capello decided to release the quintet because they will all play in next week's Champions League quarter-finals.

However, Parker has been retained, despite coming off with a slight calf injury after 88 minutes in Cardiff and aggravating a shoulder problem during the match.

Parker will face Rooney on Saturday when United go to the relegation-threatened Hammers for a clash which is crucial to both clubs.

"We are disappointed that Scott hasn't been released," said a club source today. "Fighting relegation to clubs like ours is just as important as the 'big' clubs playing in the Champions League.

"We are hopeful, though, that different players will be used tomorrow and that Scott will come back to us fit and well."

Capello's confirmation today that he is considering playing the 30-year-old for the whole match will deepen West Ham's concerns.

The Italian said: "If Parker is fit, he will play but he has some little problems. I hope that tomorrow he will be fit. I will decide tomorrow if [Jack] Wilshere and Parker will play 90 minutes or just until half-time."

Capello released some players because he didn't want them hurt before their European club games.

He said: "The players that went home because if you are tired it is easy to be injured."

With Terry back at Chelsea, Capello has appointed Gareth Barry as skipper and he announced he would try to speak to Rio Ferdinand in the coming weeks. The row over the captaincy has dogged England since Capello went public with his decision to reappoint Terry skipper before telling Ferdinand.

Capello has been accused of inconsistency after claiming he did not think it was right to inform Ferdinand he had lost the captain's armband by telephone only for Steven Gerrard to admit yesterday he had been called by the Italian to discuss the issue.

When asked about it today, the England boss said: "Rio was the captain, Steve was the vice-captain. I hope that over the next few weeks I will meet with him [Ferdinand]."

As for appointing Barry to the role, Capello said: "He's a good player, a good captain. He's also the player with the most England caps."

In that case it was a close-run thing as the Manchester City midfielder has 45 caps, just three more than Tottenham striker Peter Crouch.

Barry will lead a much-changed England team from the one that beat Wales to stay top of Group G.

Capello estimated the starting line-up would feature seven different faces and confirmed that Phil Jagielka, Leighton Baines and Andy Carroll would be in the XI.

He denied that fans would feel short-changed by the absence of so many first-choice men, claiming fringe players need to experience the "spirit of the team".

"I respect the fans," he said. "It will be interesting for the fans to see some players they know very well, it will be interesting for me and for the fans. Those who play will be really good players. It's really important for the players to understand the spirit of the team and I hope tomorrow we can see the spirit on the pitch like in the first 30 minutes against Wales."

Capello also revealed he would support Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce should he decide to take men such as Arsenal midfielder Wilshere and Liverpool striker Carroll to this summer's European Under-21 Championships in Denmark.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Liverpool counterpart Kenny Dalglish would be unhappy if their men were to have their season extended by playing for both the senior and Under-21 England teams.

But Capello said: "Yes, I will support him 100 per cent because I think the players will be really important for the Under-21s. Those players can make the difference."

Whatever his club manager thinks, Wilshere today said he would relish the opportunity to get a further taste of international football at the Under-21 tournament.

The 19-year-old said: "This is international football and I want to play in any international football.

"It's up to Stuart Pearce and Fabio Capello. They will talk and see what's best for me. I always speak to the manager at Arsenal and I will again. I am sure Stuart Pearce and Fabio Capello will talk to him as well."

Capello confirmed that Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart will start tomorrow's match. That means West Ham's Robert Green must continue to wait to make his first appearance for England since the World Cup match against USA when his howler gifted Clint Dempsey an equaliser.

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