Blues are international class

By Chris Kirwan
November 21 2002

David Moyes has been singing the praises of two his English players, stating that he believes that their form merits England squad places. The men in question are Richard Wright and Kevin Campbell.

While his call for Wright to be included in a problem position for Sven is to be expected, his case for Campbell is a sign of just how well Kevin is playing.

Richard Wright is beginning to show the form that convinced Arsene Wenger that he was the man to replace David Seaman at Highbury, and as a result is putting his name in the hat as the man to take the England jersey away from “Safe Hands”. Wright is looking a different keeper to the one who struggled on the opening day of the season against Spurs, and had many of us worried that he was a clone of Paul Gerrard. But now that Wright is getting regular football, and has put the early-season injury problems behind, he is exuding confidence to the back four in front of him. Heroics at the St James’ penalty shootout, and in the four successive 1-0 victories in the Premiership have led to him looking a far safer bet than David James.

Campbell, however, is unlikely to get a look in for England because of his age, not because he isn’t playing well enough. Eriksson seems to prefer the likes of Vassell, who for all his enthusiasm simply does not score enough goals. And Campbell is certainly a better goalscorer than Michael Ricketts, who received an England cap against the Dutch earlier this year, but will find it hard to get ahead of the likes of Smith and Heskey. But even if he doesn’t get a look in for England us Evertonians are enjoying seeing him in prime form for the Blues. Moyes stated Super Kev’s importance to the team, saying,

"When other managers and other scouts speak to me they highlight Kevin as the player they are most concerned about facing. Kevin is very important to us right now.”

“He has played every game for us and when I have asked him if he wants a breather he has said, 'No way!'He is always first at the training ground every day. His attitude has been excellent.He is playing like a number nine at the moment and on current form he is up there with the best.”
Moyes spot on as usual.

Other News:
-Rooney nominated for the BBC’s Young Sportsman of the Year award
-Brett Angell has found himself a club. Q.P.R. have signed the ex-Everton flop.
-Ex-Everton striker Mike Newell had been appointed as Hartlepool’s new boss.