Warnock shocked by Capello call

Defender forced to cancel holidays

Last updated: 13th May 2008

Stephen Warnock Blackburn

Warnock: Surprised by call-up

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Blackburn star Stephen Warnock admits he was shocked to win a call-up to the England squad.

The left-back has been called up by Fabio Capello for the friendlies with USA and Trinidad and Tobago later this month.

Warnock believes that the call-up proves he was right to leave Liverpool for Ewood Park.

"I'm more shocked than anything," Warnock told the Lancashire Evening Telegraph.

"It's a bit of a surprise because I wasn't expecting it. I'd booked holidays fully expecting to have a bit of a break.

"I actually got a phone call from Bents [David Bentley] on the way home from Birmingham saying cancel your holidays you're going away with the England squad'. So that was the first I heard of it.

"I knew that if I came to Blackburn and played week-in, week-out, I'd give myself a chance. That's turned out to be the right decision.

"I must be doing something right, but I just hope it's enough to earn a start and try to show him [Capello] what I can do."

Surgery
Meanwhile, Rovers striker Matt Derbyshire is set to undergo surgery on his hernia problem.

The England Under 21 international has been struggling with the problem since December and now the season is over the club have decided to send him under the knife.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes paid tribute to the striker for playing through the pain barrier.

"He has struggled since Christmas because of a problem with his hernia," said Hughes "He is in for an operation now and he has done well to keep going to be fair to him.

"We have kept patching him up and throwing him out there and he's done well."