Pogatetz praise for Woody

Emanuel Pogatetz feels Jonathan Woodgate fully deserves to start against Spain.

Emanuel Pogatetz feels Middlesbrough team-mate Jonathan Woodgate fully deserves to start England's friendly with Spain.

Woodgate will make his first appearance for England in almost three years when he lines up against Spain at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

The centre-half has proved his fitness during his season-long loan spell at Boro and has impressed Pogatetz.

The Austrian defender has praised Woodgate's defensive ability and believes his recall to the international side is justified.

"It's great to play with a player like him, he gives the whole defence loads of confidence," Pogatetz told Sky Sports News.

"He's a really good player and I'm learning from him every game and in every training (session).

"If you play alongside a player like Jonathan, it's not very hard to defend. Since he's been here, he's played nearly every game and he didn't make a lot of mistakes.

"He's in great form and is just a different type of defender to the other ones and that's why he deserves to be in the squad.

"He reads the game well and he can see the danger come before it really happens, that's one thing none of the other defenders has.

"That's why for me, personally, he should start for the England squad."