Almunia not in England frame

Capello rules out possible selection of Arsenal keeper

Last updated: 11th August 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Almunia not in England frame

Almunia: Eligible for England

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Fabio Capello has revealed that he will not consider calling-up Manuel Almunia during his time in charge of England.

Capello is short of goalkeeping options ahead of his side's friendly clash with Holland on Wednesday, with David James and Ben Foster both ruled out through injury.

After spending five years in the country playing for Arsenal, the Spanish-born keeper is now eligible to represent England under Fifa's residency rules.

The 32-year-old is unlikely to earn a spot ahead of Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina in the Spain squad and speculation that he could commit his future to England has been rife.

But even during the current shortage of goalkeepers, Capello played down the suggestion that Almunia could possibly earn a call-up during his time as manager.

"Almunia, for me, is Spanish. He is Spanish and he plays for the Arsenal team," Capello said.

West Ham stopper Robert Green is set to win his fifth England cap at the Amsterdam ArenA ahead of Paul Robinson and Joe Hart.

Foster injury

Foster had been earmarked for an appearance against the Dutch, just as he had been due to face Kazakhstan and Andorra in June only to undergo a thumb operation instead.

As Foster hardly produced the most accomplished performance in Sunday's Community Shield, it is perhaps just as well the man Sir Alex Ferguson has identified as England's likely World Cup number one is missing.

Not that Capello sees it as an issue.

"I am happy with his performances," he added.

"Foster made some mistakes on Sunday but he played with confidence and that is really important."

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