Alan Curbishley, the West Ham manager, says he can’t understand why goalkeeper Robert Green has been left out of the England squad to face Switzerland on Wednesday.
Green has been in excellent form this year, playing a key role in team that boasts the best defensive record outside the big four. The former Norwich stopper has just one England cap, which came when he made an appearance as a substitute against Colombia in 2005.
However, it looks like the 28-year-old’s performances have gone unnoticed by Fabio Capello, the new England manager, who has instead opted to call up David James, Scott Carson and Chris Kirkland.
“There are some players who got picked for the initial 30-man squad who probably didn’t think they were anywhere near it,” said Curbishley. “Some players were expecting to be in there and some were hoping to be in there. I don’t know where Robert falls in that - probably between hoping and expecting.
“Since I’ve been at the club he’s been the same throughout. There’s been lots of talk that he should be included [in the England squad], but Greeny has been consistent whenever I’ve spoken to him.
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“All he will do is play as well as he can and if it the situation changes, it changes. I don’t think he will see it any other way. His performances haven’t gone unnoticed, we know that and he just has to keep going. Matthew Upson has managed to get in the squad due to his performances.
“I think Greeny perhaps is not spectacular enough; he just gets on with playing football. He comes off with another clean sheet or makes a great save to get a point. Perhaps he’s got to dye his hair to make himself seem more spectacular.”
Green comes face to face with Kirkland, a surprise inclusion in Capello’s squad, tomorrow as West Ham travel to play Wigan. But Curbishley does not believe Green will hold any grudges against his opposite number.
“I don’t think being left out of the England squad is going to change his mentality. He’ll just take it on the chin and get on with it,” Curbishley added. “There is not any part of his game he needs to work on, he’s just been very, very consistent for us. Once he gets the nod from England he will go on from there.
“It’s still very early - he’s only been here a couple of years, so there’s a long way to go for Robert Green.”