Carragher unhappy at squad role for England

Jul 10 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

STEVE McCLAREN’S final attempt to persuade Jamie Carragher to carry on with England is likely to be doomed to failure after the Liverpool player revealed the time is right for him to quit international football.

Carragher is ready to concentrate solely on his club career at Anfield after admitting he is no longer willing to be a squad player for his country.

The 29-year-old has been contemplating his position for England for some time and has held talks with England head coach McClaren over recent weeks.

McClaren has persuaded Carragher to put any final decision on hold until the friendly against Germany on August 22, with senior England sources keen to convince the Liverpool man to play on.

But Carragher is almost certain to be asked not to be considered for future internationals as he instead concentrates on club duties after signing a new four-year deal at Anfield earlier this summer.

“I’m 29 now, and I have to accept if I’m not a regular starter at this stage of my England career, I don’t think I will ever be,” said Carragher. “It’s going to be difficult for me to be seen as anything more than a squad player, and that’s not what I’m interested in now.

“Playing the odd game here and there for England isn’t enough for me anymore. Four or five years ago I was happy to have that role but not now. At the moment it’s not 100% official because I’ve still got to speak to the manager before the next game.

“But at the moment it’s looking like that and as I said, if there was a major injury crisis and the four centre-halves who he obviously picks ahead of me are all injured and he’s absolutely desperate then of course I would, yeah.

“I’ve spoken to him (McClaren) a couple of times and he still wants me to apply for the squad and I’ll speak to him before the Germany game. But I told him my feelings and that I didn’t think they would change.”

A senior England source said yesterday: “Steve McClaren has total respect for Jamie as a player and as a man and is still determined to do all he can to keep Jamie in the England squad.

“I know he will be looking to speak and meet with Jamie before he announces the squad for the Germany game. Jamie is valued very highly, but obviously he plays in a very competitive position.”

Carragher reaffirmed his intention to play out the remainder of his career at Anfield, and added: “I’ve always seen England as a bonus. With the club good enough to give me a four-year contract, I want all my focus to be on Liverpool for the rest of my playing career.

“My first priority has always been winning trophies with Liverpool.”

Carragher made his debut against Hungary in 1999 but has earned a total of just 34 caps. Only 16 of those have been starts, of which a mere eight have come in competitive internationals.

“I’ve committed 12 years of my career to England, but I’ve been thinking now is the time to concentrate 100% on Liverpool,” said Carragher, who until last month held the record for the most under-21 caps with 27 appearances.

“Some of the younger defenders deserve their chance, like Joleon Lescott at Everton, or Stephen Taylor from Newcastle.

“I want to stress this has nothing to do with Steve McClaren. It wouldn’t have mattered who was the England manager, I’ve been thinking about this for a while.

“I was an Everton fan as a kid growing up and now I’m a Liverpool player and the club was always more important to me. I want to give as much to Liverpool as I possibly can over the next few years.

“Because I don’t play that much for England, you can’t really say it’s about the tiredness, it’s more about going away and being away from the club and being away from your family.”

Ask if he would regret his imminent decision, Carragher added: “Time will tell won’t it, who knows? But as I said, for me know it’s time to concentrate on my Liverpool career.”