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Parker set for England - OLIVER


donaldstott
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Interesting take on the England centre-midfield from Anal....

 

 

 

 

Captain ScottSep 28 2006

 

 

 

 

By Alan Oliver, The Evening Chronicle

 

 

 

 

Newcastle United's man of the moment Scott Parker is in line to win a recall by England for the two European championship games with Macedonia and Croatia.

 

The Chronicle has been informed that Steve McClaren has been so impressed with the United's skipper's performances that he saw him turn in against Liverpool and Everton that he plans to include Parker in his squad for the game with Macedonia a week on Saturday and the trip to Croatia to four days later.

 

But the only threat to this is that Parker, who spent the close season recovering from glandular fever, is absolutely exhausted as United come to the end of a spell of seven games in 23 days.

 

This is the reason Parker will probably only be on the bench in tonight's UEFA Cup first round proper second leg tie with Levadia Tallinn at St James' Park, giving another England international, Nicky Butt, a start.

 

 

Parker arrived at St James' Park with two England caps and it has been a source of annoyance among United fans that he has not added to these.

 

 

This is because, from the moment he first pulled on a black-and-white shirt on in a Premiership match against Arsenal at Highbury at the start of last season, he has been absolutely outstanding.

 

 

Now with Owen Hargreaves and Neil Lennon both injured and David Beckham yesterday's man, the way is clear for Parker to return to the international stage in the next fortnight, providing he can drag his weary bones on to the plane.

 

 

McClaren ran the rule over Parker in the pre-season friendly with Villarreal at St James' Park and had the Peckham-born midfielder watched against Fulham in his battle with Jimmy Bullard.

 

 

To be fair, just when Bullard appeared to be getting the upper hand that day he dislocated his kneecap in a tackle with Parker and he will be out for another couple of months.

 

 

But McClaren saw both United's games with Liverpool and Everton and I hear he could not have been more impressed with the United skipper who has taken over Alan Shearer's armband with such pride and passion.

 

 

Parker has had Emre at his shoulder this season and I must say that the pair of them have literally run themselves into the ground in United's cause.

 

 

Glenn Roeder could have rested either tonight but Emre will get a fortnight's break because his six-match international suspension is for competitive matches only and he cannot play again for Turkey until next year.

 

 

Damien Duff, who missed Sunday's

 

 

draw with Everton at St James' Park will have to play some part tonight or at Manchester United on Sunday or United will not exactly be happy to see him go off and play for the Republic of Ireland in their Euro qualifier with Cyprus in Nicosia a week on Saturday, and with the Czech Republic in Dublin the following Wednesday.

 

 

Stephen Carr is in the Irish squad and so too is his United colleague Alan O'Brien who has been sidelined with a groin injury. The speedy left winger is not match fit and it is touch and go whether he will link up with the Irish squad on Monday.

 

 

Steven Taylor is considering nothing but victory as Newcastle attempt to book their place in the UEFA Cup group stage tonight.

 

 

"The first thing in our minds is to win the game, it is as simple as that," the defender said. "It does not matter how we win the game as long as we come away in the next round.

 

 

"This club is massive and we need to be in this sort of competition."

 

 

Newcastle missed out on Europe altogether last season, and only qualified for the UEFA Cup this time around by way of the much-maligned Intertoto Cup.

 

 

However, Taylor is relishing the chance to fight for European glory on again after having to sit by and watch derby rivals Middlesbrough make it all the way to the final at the end of the 2005-06 campaign.

 

 

He said: "We did well a couple of years ago and against Sporting Lisbon - maybe we were unlucky.

 

 

"I thrive on opportunities to play against the best. It is great for the fans and the football club as well."

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