Woody wants consistency

Spurs ace excited by signing

By Hayley Paterson   Last updated: 8th June 2008

Jonathan Woodgate Tottenham

Woody: England regular

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Jonathan Woodgate has hit back at claims he is still "injury-prone" and is eager to feature consistently for Fabio Capello's England side.

The 28-year-old is keen to get rid of his 'sicknote' tag and focus on making big impacts on both a club and country stage.

Despite Capello being a fan after the Tottenham Hotspur star's assured performance during the friendly win over Trinidad and Tobago, Woodgate still wants to prove himself to his critics.

"I made my England debut in 1999 and since then, I have missed too many games," he told the Sunday Express.

Critics

Woodgate has risen from a torrid finale to his Leeds United career, when he was embroiled in a Crown Court case with team-mate Lee Bowyer and slapped with a three-and-a-half-year FA ban.

And after transfers to Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Middlesbrough, Woodgate is now playing consistently at White Hart Lane and free from injury.

His winning header over Chelsea also helped Spurs to clinch the Carling Cup - making it the club's first piece of silverware in nine years.

Nightmare

But the defender still admits his international career has been a nightmare.

"It's easy to forget that I have played a lot of games in the last two seasons, but I do regret that I haven't played that many for England."

He is also excited by Spurs' latest arrival, midfielder Luka Modric after his £16.6million transfer from Dinamo Zagreb.

"That sends out a message of intent. It's why I signed for Spurs in the first place.

"I am sure we will buy some more players. I don't think Modric will be the last big signing. Anything is possible."