Monday, 15 October 2012

Jenkinson Closes on England Bow

 
By Nick Lander
 
Arsenal's emerging right back Carl Jenkinson could make his England debut in the Three Lions' friendly against Sweden next month.
 
The 20-year-old did in fact train with the England squad yesterday at Colney and is understood to have been part of Roy Hodgson's plans for the Poland game on Tuesday. However, it has been reported that an FA mix up means that Jenkinson is currently ineligible for England, having played most recently for Finland's U-21 side - who his eligible to represent through his Finnish mother - meaning that his FIFA registration is with the Finland, not England.
 
Whilst the FA are now moving to rectify this, the process will take around a month, therefore ruling him out of Tuesday's game in Eastern Europe. This is a blow for England, after Kyle Walker picked up an injury, although Glen Johnson is expected to be restored to the starting line up, after missing out against San Marino - who Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored his first international goal against, rounding off a 5-0 rout at Wembley.
 
When asked last Thursday about Jenkinson's England chances, Hodgson said, "Kieran Gibbs, like Jenkinson, has started very well for Arsenal.
 
"On this occasion, we decided to go with him and keep Jenkinson up our sleeves but he'll be very much in our thoughts when it comes to the next friendly match.
 
"After speaking to Arsene Wenger I am also conscious that his rise has been meteoric.
 
"He's only 20 and it's nice to temper things a little bit, but he wouldn't be out of place in the squad."
 
Chamberlain will be Arsenal's only English representative in Poland after Theo Walcott was injured early on by the San Marino goalkeeper on Friday.
 
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