MILLS FOR ENGLAND?
DANNY Mills is confident of making Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for the friendly against Italy next month and player performance analysts Opta Index have decided to investigate his credentials using their exclusive kick-by-kick analysis of Premiership football.
Mills is currently serving a six-match domestic ban for a dismissal at Newcastle when he lashed out at Craig Bellamy. In a separate incident he used foul and abusive language at a fourth official after being red-carded at Arsenal.
This suspension ruled him out of contention for England's friendly in Amsterdam earlier this month when he would have witnessed Gary and Phillip Neville take it in turns to fill the right-back slot.
But Opta can reveal that the Leeds hardman has actually won more tackles than both the Neville brothers this season in the Premiership and his tally of 69 successful challenges is the fourth-highest by an Englishman during the course of the current campaign.
Mills' importance to the Leeds side can not be underestimated. The team have taken two points out of a possible 12 in his four-game absence to date and have conceded eight goals without his presence in the back four.
His suspension does not come into affect in European competition and the former Charlton man was drafted back into the side for the trip to PSV Eindhoven last week giving a reasonable account of himself in the goalless draw.
With this Thursday's return at Elland Road the only match he can play in until the visit of Blackburn on March 17, Mills will want to shine against the Dutch side to increase his chances of making the national squad for the visit of Italy.
Having won three caps under Eriksson, Mills is aware that the Swede has faith in his ability and is not put off by his tough-guy image. However he can ill afford any more suspensions - having a record that already accumulated seven cautions on top of his two dismissals in the Premiership might severely dent his chances of making Eriksson's squad for the trip to the Far East.
Mills' performances this season have relegated Republic of Ireland World Cup certainty Gary Kelly to the substitute's bench and the Englishman has justified David O'Leary's faith in him. The Norwich-born defender is one of only two players to have attempted more than 100 dribbles and runs at Elland Road this season, with Harry Kewell being the other.
Furthermore he has attempted more crosses and corners than his England rivals Jamie Carragher and Phillip Neville. Although Mills could do with improving his distribution rate of 67% which is below average for a Premiership defender.
With Mills about to play out his last competitive action for two and a half weeks on Thursday night, he will try to make it difficult night for the Dutch as they look to progress into the last eight of the UEFA Cup and their man on a mission.
