the word

It’s been an arduous winter for England footballers. Why are so many of our top international players unable to stay fit? David James has played once since November, in limbo with clubs currently and desperate for fitness and quality first team games. Ready to pounce in his place between the net is Joe Hart. Very inexperienced he might be at international level but he is knocking hard on the door of the starting X1 especially after so many back to back great performances for Birmingham.

Glen Johnson only 25 years old, should be hitting his prime, instead he is hitting the physio’s bench. I question his ability as a solid right back anyway; in fact I struggle to select right back in the country who is world class. This is the area I feel is a weak link for England. Notable others are Micah Richards who’s been poor for Manchester City and Manchester United’s Wes Brown who isn’t really consistent but maybe perhaps the only real answer. No doubt with such a huge weakness on the right, opposition coaches will look to expose us with pacey left wingers.

Partnering Captain Terry should be Rio Ferdinand but he faces the realisation that at 31 years old injuries are harder to come back from. If he fails to fully recover other options for centre-back cover are Matthew Upson, Lescott who’s injured himself and the rarely fit for long but incredibly talented Ledley King.

Wide right we would expect Walcott to be causing havoc whipping up and down the wing, sadly the Arsenal youngster is far too injury prone. On the other hand veteran David Beckham who’s sporting a new tattoo of Jesus is still around and looking good for AC Milan but could he start every game at World Cup level? If not Aaron Lennon seems pretty much in the frame now and has progressed well over the last 12 months and would be a reasonable plan B.

My biggest concern in midfield is the maestro that is Steven Gerrard, a player with the ability to win a game and beat teams single handedly. The Liverpool playmaker has struggled with hamstring and groin problems and furthermore has possible surgery impending. On the upside there is Joe Cole, a great player who is back on the up but at present lacking first team games and match fitness. And there is always James Milner a brilliant player according to Martin O’Neill, also a great deputy across the midfield. Out of the question it might be, but imagine how England could solve a few defensive frailties if only Milner could play at right back.

It seems up front we have the least injury problems, but the concern there is all together different. Who exactly is the right striker to partner Wayne Rooney in attack? Sir Alex has expressed that doesn’t fancy Rooney and Owen together for United, but if they hit it off as an attacking force they would have 5 months playing together to create a synergy that could be prolific. Other obvious contenders are Defoe, Crouch, Heskey and Cole.

Despite the fitness problems all over the pitch, and with one friendly left before the start of the World Cup the right selection of strikers may just prove to be the biggest pain in Capello’s neck.

This week Manager Roberto Mancini said he plans to overhaul his Manchester City players' pre-match meal, introducing pizza and wine to the menu. In reaction to his comments most other gaffer’s around the country were against it, some even appalled by the idea and few supported the Italians method.

Most clubs consider themselves bang up to date with sports science and nutrition methods, Sam Alladyce claiming to practically run his sessions using the most stringent scientific approaches, but I believe there is actually some real mileage in the Mancini’s proposal.

UK Stats show a quarter of adults are already obese because of our poor British diets, far higher than figures on the continent.

Many studies have extolled the health benefits of a diet high in fruit and vegetables, low in meat and dairy products, and enlivened with a couple of glasses of wine. Italy comes top of countries where people live longest free of a debilitating condition. And of course we can’t forget the feel good factor we experience from food we like. So Mancini it seems is on the money, it’s all about balance.

I for one certainly wouldn’t complain some of perhaps my most favourite days in my life have consisted of football, pizza and wine: the perfect ingredients to a great day!