From the offal.
PENNANT HOPING FOR ENGLAND CALL
Paul Eaton 24 August 2006
Jermaine Pennant is hoping his early season form with Liverpool can aid his international ambitions over the coming weeks.
Pennant helped Liverpool qualify for the Champions League with a fine run and cross to set up Peter Crouch's away goal in Kiev on Tuesday and he believes playing in the top club tournament with the Reds will now enhance his chances of a first cap for his country.
England coach Steve McClaren watched Pennant in the first leg against Maccabi Haifa two weeks ago and the Reds' new winger is hopeful an international call won't be too far away.
"Playing in the Champions League can only improve my England chances," he said. "If you are proving yourself in the Champions League and playing well, it is going to be at the back of the England manager's mind to pick you.
"The more I can play in big games like these, the better it is going to be for me.
"The only thing left for me is to play for my country. If that could happen, it would be a great turnaround for me and my career.
"It is an incentive to know the England manager is watching you but my manager puts me under pressure every time I go out to play well and that makes me determined to do my best for the team.
"The team comes before anything but if you can continue to play well for the team then sooner or later hopefully the England coach will take notice.
"With Becks out of the team, it is there for the taking. England have already got two players in Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon, while Steven Gerrard showed he could play there too.
"So it is going to be difficult but I can offer something different and if the manager gives me the chance I know I can take it."
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Is it just me or is Pennant wanting to run before he can walk? He's had a promising start to his LFC career - but he hasn't set the world alight. He should be going about his business in a quiet manner and let any call-ups just happen. I also don't like his comment about "all he has left to achieve is an England cap" rubbish - that is hardly the talk of a man desperate to win things at Anfield.
I hope he remains committed and works hard to improve. He isn't the finished article yet!
PENNANT HOPING FOR ENGLAND CALL
Paul Eaton 24 August 2006
Jermaine Pennant is hoping his early season form with Liverpool can aid his international ambitions over the coming weeks.
Pennant helped Liverpool qualify for the Champions League with a fine run and cross to set up Peter Crouch's away goal in Kiev on Tuesday and he believes playing in the top club tournament with the Reds will now enhance his chances of a first cap for his country.
England coach Steve McClaren watched Pennant in the first leg against Maccabi Haifa two weeks ago and the Reds' new winger is hopeful an international call won't be too far away.
"Playing in the Champions League can only improve my England chances," he said. "If you are proving yourself in the Champions League and playing well, it is going to be at the back of the England manager's mind to pick you.
"The more I can play in big games like these, the better it is going to be for me.
"The only thing left for me is to play for my country. If that could happen, it would be a great turnaround for me and my career.
"It is an incentive to know the England manager is watching you but my manager puts me under pressure every time I go out to play well and that makes me determined to do my best for the team.
"The team comes before anything but if you can continue to play well for the team then sooner or later hopefully the England coach will take notice.
"With Becks out of the team, it is there for the taking. England have already got two players in Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon, while Steven Gerrard showed he could play there too.
"So it is going to be difficult but I can offer something different and if the manager gives me the chance I know I can take it."
----------------------------------------------------
Is it just me or is Pennant wanting to run before he can walk? He's had a promising start to his LFC career - but he hasn't set the world alight. He should be going about his business in a quiet manner and let any call-ups just happen. I also don't like his comment about "all he has left to achieve is an England cap" rubbish - that is hardly the talk of a man desperate to win things at Anfield.
I hope he remains committed and works hard to improve. He isn't the finished article yet!
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