When Joleon Lescott is expected to think about his odds of being in the England squad, whenever they qualify for the Planet Cup finals next summer, he pauses for a moment and then hedges his bets. aSitting here today, if I was asked by youad that this past year then Iad have said: aYeah, fairly gooda. Nevertheless, you donat know. If I could play more frequently at team level then I think Iall be there.a Answering questions in a beach front cafe in town of Riccione, where England have been centered before and after Fridayas World Cup qualifier against San Marino, isn't really where Lescott anticipated to be this weekend. He in the pipeline to be in Paris along with his wife Debbie, taking advantage of a worldwide week when, he thought, his country did not need him. As it stands, Lescott will be in the side tomorrow night when England experience Montenegro in Podgorica inside their essential World Cup qualifier. Eleven days ago he wasn't even in Roy Hodgsonas 26-man team for the 2 qualifiers having, in the language of the manager, performed atoo little footballa for Manchester City. Come the end of Fridayas game in Serravalle he was carrying the captainas armband for the next time in his international career. But then Lescott, 30, knows only too well how fast things can transform. Last summer at Euro 2012 he and John Terry started every game together at one's heart of Hodgsonas support. Lescott had just gained his first Premier League winnersa honor with City, beginning 40 games in most contests. He enjoyed, if he was fit. Today he is pretty much out in the cold. It's not yet been satisfactorilyA discussed why Roberto Mancini has taken against Lescott to such anA degree. The teenage Serb Matija Nastasic has been remarkable, but even in Vincent Kompanyas absences the Town manager has generally considered Kolo TourA and Javi Garcia as opposed to Lescott. However, the new agreement between the Football Association and the groups that participants do not examine club concerns on international responsibility meant Lescott was struggling to provide his view on the situation. aTowards the finish of the growing season, Iall address that,a he explained. aBut for now, Iam fully dedicated to England and what England need to do.a He will probably partner Chris Smalling tomorrow night, having played alongside the United person on Friday. Smalling is the only key defender still open to Hodgson from the four he picked in his initial squad after the withdrawals of Michael Dawson, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Cahill. Smalling played under Hodgson at Fulham and is some thing of a popular of the England manager but has actually made two less starts for United, 15, than Lescott has for City this year. Like Lescott, he also seems to be final choice centre-back at his club. But it was Lescott who was initially left out and then called up when Dawson withdrew. aOf course it is a concern that I havenat been playing as much I'd like, but I have confidence in my ability,a Lescott said. aTouch wood I havenat been injured a' since I havenat been playing a so I feel sharp enough to adapt to something. I'm not saying that I am a certain start but I feel healthy and feel sharp. aI donat think everyone else in the squad has played every game because the last squad. If you were to think about it like this no-one can be at their final peak but I'm comfortable within my power. Since the other players certainly I wasn't playing as frequently. Rio and jordan were playing routinely and playing well so the reasons are fully understood by me for perhaps not being within. aI donat think the manager owes anything to me special to other people... he said Chris had played in the last game against Brazil and did well. I understood his decision and respected them. Bob has performed more for England. Thatas just how I look at it. But Iam here today and Iam planning to simply take the chance with both hands.a Lescott says that he still enjoys waking up for training in the morning and is at the training ground even on days off because he likes to keep ticking over. His fracture with Mancini did actually come after the director criticised his defender following a Champions League defeat to Ajax in Amsterdam on 24 October. After that another game wasn't started by Lescott before visit of his former team Everton at the start of December. His contract is up in the summer of next year and already there has been suggestions that a new player signed for A24m might be permitted to go for a fraction of that charge this summer. If his City career is coming to an end, at least as long as Mancini stays at the club, then there is still lots at stake for England. He's still young for a central defender. aThe Euros were good and if I never played for England again which will have been down as the ultimate purpose to have played in,a he said. aBut to play on the planet Cup is everyoneas desire. No disrespect to the Euros but you donat develop thinking of the Euros, you desire the World Cup. Thatas the exact same for all and Iam no different.a Of course, there are several players on the edges of Hodgsonas group who are thinking exactly the same and in central protection Hodgson has a lot of players to select from. If Lescott works tomorrow evening then one needs, especially given Ferdinandas withdrawal, that Hodgson will feel a specific respect towards him. Undoubtedly more than he has experienced with Mancini at City. England hopeful: Lescott by figures 25 England limits won by Lescott. He made his debut from the counter against Estonia in October 2007 1 Defeat for England in Lescottas last 13 performances a the Euro 2012 quarter-final damage to Italy
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