Why is Capello overlooking Danny Simpson?

Feb 27 2011 by Mark Douglas, Sunday Sun

NEWCASTLE United have fielded more English players than any other in Premier League history – but you’d never know it judging by Fabio Capello’s recent squads. Chief Sports Writer Mark Douglas talks to Three Lions hopeful Danny Simpson about England, Alan Pardew and being off the radar.

FABIO CAPELLO recently doubled his English lessons in a belated effort to master the mother tongue of his adopted nation.

Given his infamous reluctance to travel further north than the M62 corridor – it is two years and counting since he last visited a North East football stadium – perhaps he should try geography next.

Because as the inexplicably overlooked Danny Simpson will testify, there is football life beyond Old Trafford.

Simpson, of course, quit Manchester United last year in an attempt to resurrect a career that had stalled during a succession of loan moves.

In danger of slipping off the radar, the Salford lad was supping in last chance saloon when it came to a Premier League career before Chris Hughton handed him a lifeline.

It is a measure of his progress in the intervening 18 months that his top-flight class is no longer up for debate – but surely that steep improvement should have merited consideration from Capello over the last few months?

Right-back, in case you needed reminding, is England’s problem position.

Glen Johnson, so horribly out-of-form that Kenny Dalglish has switched him to the left, is the current first choice, but below him there is a place for the taking.

With 20 solid Premier League starts behind him – and six clean sheets – Simpson should be a credible contender for a Three Lions call-up, so there was understandable dismay when the inexperienced Kyle Walker nudged in front of him for the recent Denmark friendly.

No one would dispute that Walker has potential, but with just 180 minutes of top-flight football under his belt, his selection had Geordie conspiracy theorists once again muttering about a north-south divide when it comes to the England set-up.

Capello would no doubt counter by pointing out Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll have been handed debuts on his watch, but his infrequent visits to the North East have not gone unnoticed.

Yet to visit St James’ Park during his three-year reign, his sole trip to the Stadium of Light came at the start of last season.

By contrast he has pitched up at Molineux twice already this season to watch bottom of the pile Wolves.

Simpson is too canny to get embroiled in that debate when the Three Lions poser inevitably arrives.

But asked about England, he admits it remains a “dream”. “Of course I was disappointed but it’s hard to say why you don’t get in,” he said.

“I’ve not heard anything from England – there was just a bit of speculation around the France game I think, but you don’t listen to it until you get that call from them, and I didn’t hear anything.

“Did it feel like an insult? Not really, because I know what a good player Kyle Walker is and I’m not criticising him.