Football: Upson's Arsenal ambition

THE HERO of England's Under-21 victory over France on Tuesday night, Arsenal's Matthew Upson, yesterday revealed his determination to break up the most famous back four in English football.

Upson is full of admiration for Tony Adams and Martin Keown, who formed England's centre-back pairing against France at Wembley last night. He admits that watching and playing with the Gunners' back four, including Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn, has taught him everything he knows.

But Upson is also aware that he needs first-team football if his potential is to be fully developed. At the moment Under-21 games are providing him with a lift away from the grind of training and reserve-team football with the Gunners.

Upson again enhanced his reputation with his second goal in four Under- 21 appearances to seal the fightback which clinched victory against France at Pride Park.

"To get a full-time spot for Arsenal is my main objective, and I am hoping events will eventually lead to that happening," He said. "It's tough at the moment because the two centre-halves are the two England centre-halves, so I will have to go a bit to get in. I've learned everything off the back four, and it was brilliant to see the two full-backs, Dixon and Winterburn, also called up against France.

"I don't get enough opportunities to play and I need to play more games to push myself up on to the next level."

Meanwhile, England's other scorer, Lee Bowyer, praised the efforts of the Under-21 coach, Peter Taylor, despite their fall-out last season when the Leeds player refused to play in the Toulon tournament.

Taylor's position remains in doubt after the sacking of Glenn Hoddle despite a formidable record in terms of results and bringing players through into the senior squad.

Bowyer, who ended 17 months of exile with his first Under-21 goal, said: "I think he's done an excellent job, and when I've been away the side has been playing really well.

"They've had some excellent results, and people like Michael Owen, Rio Ferdinand and Lee Hendrie have all gone into the full squad while Kieron Dyer has been with them for the France game."

Hendrie, the Aston Villa midfielder, has set his sights on regaining his place in the full England squad after reaping the benefits of a mid- season break, he said yesterday.

Hendrie admitted he had been feeling jaded in recent weeks after a virtual non-stop schedule since breaking into the Villa team on a regular basis 12 months ago.

However, the Villa manager, John Gregory, gave him a week's break, and Hendrie returned from the Canary Isles with his batteries recharged to turn in a sparkling performance against France on Tuesday.

Hendrie said: "I needed a break. I had been feeling tired and a bit jaded and I hadn't been performing very well in the last few games for Villa.

"I told the gaffer, and he told me not to come in for training for a week - so I went away and got my feet up for a few days.

"I think it did the trick, because I came back feeling fresh and feeling ready for the Under-21 game. It certainly helped."