Onuoha considers quitting England set-up

(AFP)

Fabio Capello is not exactly blessed in the centre-half position. After John Terry (seemingly rehabilitated after being very publically stripped of the captaincy) and Rio Ferdinand (one knock away from a return of the bad back), next up is Matthew Upson, who is involved in a relegation scrap with West Ham United. So it may well alarm him to hear Nedum Onuoha is considering walking away from the England set-up.

The Manchester City and England Under-21 defender is thinking of representing Nigeria in the World Cup. He was born in the African country but moved to the UK when he was seven.

Onuoha has been delaying a decision on his international future to see what the likelihood was of him making the jump into the senior ranks after being a member of the Under-21 squad that reached last summer's European Championship final. However, Onuoha, who has made good progress under Mark Hughes and now Roberto Mancini at City, is keen to hear from the Nigeria coach, Lars Lagerback, ahead of this summer's finals.

"I would like to play in the remaining six games for City," he said. "If I did that maybe the chance would be there to play for Nigeria. But if I am not playing week in, week out, I wouldn't expect to receive a call from anyone. Everyone wants to play in the World Cup, but things have to be right and you have to be selected. A lot of people are talking about it as though it is an option but I have never been called up."

Meanwhile, full-back Wayne Bridge is set to return for City against Birmingham on Sunday after resuming training following a hernia operation.