Crocked: Barry is helped offFabio Capello’s World Cup plans were plunged into crisis last night after it emerged that Gareth Barry is likely to miss the tournament in South Africa.
There are growing concerns that the ankle ligament damage he suffered during
Manchester City’s defeat by Tottenham is so bad, he may be forced out of the Finals.
He has been sent for a scan but has told friends he is ‘in serious trouble’.
With Owen Hargreaves only just returning from a 19-month injury absence, Barry was seen as Capello’s only specialist holding midfielder. That leaves the Italian turning to players like Michael Carrick, Scott Parker or the uncapped Tom Huddlestone, or forcing Steven Gerrard into a more defensive role.
It is unlikely he will gamble on Hargreaves, as it may be too soon for the Manchester United midfielder.
However, Tottenham captain Ledley King has secured a place in England’s provisional squad and will join Capello and his staff at their Austrian pre-tournament training camp. Capello names his 30-man party for Austria on Tuesday — they then leave on May 17.
Defender King impressed Capello so much in the 1-0 win against City on Wednesday that he will be included in the party which will be reduced to 23 ahead of departure to Johannesburg on June 2.
On the plane: King is in Capello's final 23-man squad for South AfricaKing’s chronic knee condition is a worry but England’s boss was hugely encouraged by the fact that he performed so well against City four days after playing a part in a 1-0 win over Bolton. King has 19 caps — he was named in the squad 13 months ago for the games against Slovakia and Ukraine before withdrawing due to injury — but he could add to that with friendlies against Mexico and Japan.
Capello must then decide if he can take a player whose condition limits how often he can play and train, in view of the fact he also has serious fitness concerns over Rio Ferdinand, Joleon Lescott and Wes Brown.
The manager may make one last attempt to tempt Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher out of international retirement.
source: dailymail
