Fabio Capello suffered his first real setback as England manager last night when Jamie Carragher ruled out a return to international football.
The Italian is a huge admirer of the Liverpool centre half and had hinted strongly at a desire to lure him out of international retirement.
But Carragher, despite all the respect he has for Capello, has said he is unlikely to go back on a decision he made after losing patience with former England coach Steve McClaren — even if Capello approaches him in person.
When asked yesterday if he would reconsider, the 29-year-old said: "I don't think so. I'm happy with the way things are now and I get to have a break with the family as well now (in international weeks). I cannot see that changing."
He was then asked if it would make any difference if Capello approached him personally but he told Liverpool's own TV channel: "I don't think so."
That will not impress England's new supremo, who made a telling point at his introductory press conference on Monday, saying: "I believe above all that the pride of wearing the England shirt should be a motivation for every player."
Carragher, who won 34 caps, decided to quit international football in the summer after dropping down the pecking order for a place in the heart of the England defence behind the likes of Manchester United's Wes Brown, Middlesbrough's Jonathan Woodgate and Tottenham's Ledley King.
He became disillusioned with being used in the England set-up anywhere apart from his best position of centre back. He had even been asked to play as a holding midfielder.
McClaren made an unsuccessful attempt to get Carragher to change his mind early this season in a meeting at Liverpool's training ground.
Capello already has concerns at centre half before his first game — the friendly with Switzerland at Wembley on February 6.
John Terry is almost certainly out after breaking three bones in his foot during Chelsea's defeat at Arsenal on Sunday, while King and Woodgate have also been troubled by injury this season.
With Sol Campbell now ready to retire from international football after England's failure to quality for next summer's European Championships, Capello will find himself short of options.
Joleon Lescott was promoted to the first team at the end of McClaren's tenure and the Everton centre half may well continue in the side as a partner to Rio Ferdinand.
The Italian is a huge admirer of the Liverpool centre half and had hinted strongly at a desire to lure him out of international retirement.
But Carragher, despite all the respect he has for Capello, has said he is unlikely to go back on a decision he made after losing patience with former England coach Steve McClaren — even if Capello approaches him in person.
When asked yesterday if he would reconsider, the 29-year-old said: "I don't think so. I'm happy with the way things are now and I get to have a break with the family as well now (in international weeks). I cannot see that changing."
He was then asked if it would make any difference if Capello approached him personally but he told Liverpool's own TV channel: "I don't think so."
That will not impress England's new supremo, who made a telling point at his introductory press conference on Monday, saying: "I believe above all that the pride of wearing the England shirt should be a motivation for every player."
Carragher, who won 34 caps, decided to quit international football in the summer after dropping down the pecking order for a place in the heart of the England defence behind the likes of Manchester United's Wes Brown, Middlesbrough's Jonathan Woodgate and Tottenham's Ledley King.
He became disillusioned with being used in the England set-up anywhere apart from his best position of centre back. He had even been asked to play as a holding midfielder.
McClaren made an unsuccessful attempt to get Carragher to change his mind early this season in a meeting at Liverpool's training ground.
Capello already has concerns at centre half before his first game — the friendly with Switzerland at Wembley on February 6.
John Terry is almost certainly out after breaking three bones in his foot during Chelsea's defeat at Arsenal on Sunday, while King and Woodgate have also been troubled by injury this season.
With Sol Campbell now ready to retire from international football after England's failure to quality for next summer's European Championships, Capello will find himself short of options.
Joleon Lescott was promoted to the first team at the end of McClaren's tenure and the Everton centre half may well continue in the side as a partner to Rio Ferdinand.
RAFA 
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