Young calls time on England career
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Latest in International
Related articles
On Facebook
Sport blogs
iBet: Serena Williams looks hungry again
Serena Williams has looked right back to her best in recent weeks and more importantly she looks hun...
Manchester City top the ‘injury league’, with Manchester United bottom
The results of new research into every significant injury suffered by every Premier League footballe...
Stereotypical Germany? With the defence ‘forgotten’, think again
The blunt exposure of Germany's defensive problems in their last two friendlies has certainly served...
Glen Johnson's withdrawal from the England squad to face Brazil has shed light on Luke Young's international status, after the Aston Villa defender told the Football Association last season he was no longer available for selection.
It is understood Young informed the FA around the time of the Spain friendly in February that he would concentrate on club football after being on the periphery of the squad and earning seven caps in four years.
The 30-year-old right-back was in the original squad for the defeat in Seville but did not travel after picking up a toe injury.
A slight knock led to Johnson returning to Liverpool for treatment this week and left England boss Fabio Capello with just Wes Brown as cover at right-back.
It is thought an enquiry was made over whether Young was still unavailable, rather than a case of the former Tottenham and Charlton full-back rejecting a call-up for the trip to face Dunga's men in Qatar.
This season, Young has been coming to terms with the death of his half-brother, Andre.
He told AVTV: "I came back in pre-season looking forward to the new campaign. I felt I could improve on my performances of the previous season. I had the bit between my teeth - a real determination to succeed.
"I then picked up niggling thigh injuries that I couldn't get rid of and then obviously the family bereavement which was difficult to get over.
"But I am ready to concentrate on football now and I'm looking forward to playing. In the first few weeks after what happened I didn't really want to do anything. It was really tough early on."
- 1 Serena struck down by brave Razzano and umpire furore
- 2 Olympians: They're fit and don't we just know it
- 3 McIlroy misses another cut and admits 'taking my eye off the ball'
- 4 'I'm joining Chelsea', says £40m Lille playmaker Eden Hazard
- 5 Hodgson urges squad to attempt to 'enjoy' Euros
- 6 Club-by-club guide: Players available on a free transfer this summer
- 7 Marathon men: Are Spain running out of puff?
- 8 Sports caption competition winners
- 9 Rodgers veers towards taking Liverpool job
- 10 United close in on Kagawa after missing out on Hazard
- 1 Summer 2012: Money no object
- 2 Anger over Lagarde's tax-free salary
- 3 Sex in dressing rooms and Play School presenters 'stoned out of their minds' - inside BBC Television Centre
- 4 Mark Neary: The father who opened up secret courts
- 5 'Hello mum, this is going to be hard for you to read ...'
- 6 Image released of naked cannibal killed by Miami police as he ate homeless man's face
- 7 Israel hints it may be behind super-virus targeting Iran
- 8 Queen's legacy: sex and drugs and rock'n'roll
- 9 Coke reveals its secret: It may need to carry a cancer warning
- 10 French in uproar over oral sex anti-smoking posters
Experience the Heineken Hub
Get free wi-fi and exclusive i content while you enjoy a tasty pint of Heineken at participating pubs.
Can you imagine a career in teaching?
Be inspired to teach - let real teachers show you how rewarding the job can be.
Playing a game-changing role during the Games
Cisco is providing the solutions for London 2012's complex IT needs.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Career Services
Day In a Page
Grace Dent
Ireland's austerity D-Day: How much pain can it take?
Is doctors' fixation on treatment making us ill?
Return of the unacceptable face of capitalism?
Off the rails in Bermuda





Comments