Fabio Capello must pick Bobby Zamora, says Zoltan Gera

What a dazzler: Bobby Zamora grabs victory with his dramatic last-gasp free-kick
David Smith11 April 2012

If Fabio Capello requires further convincing that striker Bobby Zamora is worthy of a debut call into the England squad that faces Egypt at Wembley early next month, he need only consult with Zoltan Gera.

In Fulham's last two fixtures, including yesterday's 2-1 comeback win over Birmingham City, nobody has got closer to Zamora than the busy Hungarian who is convinced his team-mate deserves international recognition.

Gera's role against Europa League rivals Shakhtar Donetsk last Thursday and again against City was to sit just behind Zamora, much as Wayne Rooney would be asked to do were the Manchester United star paired with Fulham's target man for England.

And he is convinced that Capello, present at Craven Cottage to run his eye over both Zamora and City's impressive on-loan goalkeeper Joe Hart, will have taken the hint about a new England attacking formation.

Gera said: "I think Mr Capello wants to find a player to make a good partnership with Rooney.

"And I can imagine Bobby playing with Rooney because he is not just a good target player, he can score goals and he can run behind defenders. You see it week in and week out, Bobby is playing very well."

Capello has made form a prerequisite for selection and Zamora is at the top of his game. It is just a shame that the England coach was already heading for home when Zamora curled in a spectacular 90th-minute free-kick that stole the points for Roy Hodgson's side.

In truth, Capello would have already noted Zamora's tireless running, his excellent hold-up play and the way in which the 29-year-old's sheer physical presence caused panic.

Norwegian international Brede Hangeland expressed sympathy for his opposite numbers. The towering Fulham defender said: "Bobby's a very difficult player to go head-to-head with. All I will say is that I am very happy that he is on my team.

"I don't like to talk up player's chances of international recognition. But Bobby is a brilliant player and if I played against England I'd be worried if he was lining up against me. Everything he touches at the moment seems to turn to gold."

Four goals in the last four games, and 15 from 32 starts this season, confirm Hangeland's assertion. But Zamora wasn't the only quality player wearing a Fulham shirt yesterday.

Damien Duff charged up and down the right wing like a man possessed and the Irishman deserved his second-half goal.

That cancelled out Chris Baird's dreadful header into his own net while attempting to cut out Lee Bowyer's second-minute cross.

It should be noted that Baird, whose game has flourished under Hodgson, recovered his composure well to become one of Fulham's outstanding performers.

He blocked brilliantly from Keith Fahey when a second Birmingham goal looked a certainty, and he sent a number of searching long passes directly to the feet of Duff, Simon Davies and Zamora.

Hangeland said: "I thought we did well, especially when you take into account the fact we had a really hard game against Shakhtar. We got off to a bad start but we responded well."

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