Nelsen backs Robinson

Rovers skipper feels team-mate should be given England chance

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 10th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Nelsen backs Robinson

Robinson: World Cup hope

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Ryan Nelsen believes Blackburn team-mate Paul Robinson deserves another chance to reclaim the No.1 jersey for England.

The Rovers skipper feels the 30-year-old has shone this term even if the defenders in front of him have left him slightly exposed as times.

The former Leeds and Tottenham goalkeeper has not played for his country for well over two years but still has an outside chance of making Fabio Capello's final 23-man squad for South Africa.

Nelsen, who will be heading to the World Cup with New Zealand, feels the fact that no other English goalkeeper has stood up and made the position their own, with the exception of in-form Joe Hart, can only work in Robinson's favour.

"There is not really one English keeper who has put his hand up and said, 'I'm the man'," he told The People.

Tremendous strides

"But Paul has been making some tremendous strides this season in the way he looks physically and the performances he has put in.

"It has been very difficult for him because we haven't played that well in front of him, but when he has had to make saves he has done it.

"I can't understand why not only is he not in contention, but also why he is not right up there.

"His form this season has been fantastic and shows what he has put in behind the scenes. I hope that has got back to England's management because he has worked so hard."