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England squad: Steven Taylor replaces Gary Cahill

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments197

England and Newcastle defender Steven Taylor

England have called up Newcastle centre-back Steven Taylor after Gary Cahill was ruled out of Friday's World Cup qualifier against San Marino.

Cahill has a knee injury but could be fit to face Montenegro on 26 March and will be reassessed before that game.

Centre-backs Michael Dawson and Rio Ferdinand have also withdrawn from the squad, with Steven Caulker and Joleon Lescott replacing them.

Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon will miss both games with a groin injury.

England boss Roy Hodgson's options and experience in central defence have suffered following the withdrawals.

Tottenham's Caulker, 21, has one cap, while the uncapped Taylor, 27, was last involved in the England senior set-up when he was an unused substitute in a friendly defeat by Germany in August 2007.

"It's a dream come true," Taylor, who won 29 caps for the Under-21s, told the official Newcastle website.

"I am so happy to have received a call-up to the full squad. It is every player's ambition to represent their country and it is the greatest honour in professional football.

"If I am lucky enough to be given that chance over the next seven days it will be one of the proudest moments of my playing career."

Lennon missed Tottenham's loss to Fulham on Sunday, while Dawson was taken off at half-time with a hamstring strain.

"He is on the brink of rupturing his muscle," said Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas about Lennon. "He has been struggling a lot with injuries."

Dawson, who has won four international caps but has not played for his country since the 2-0 win in Wales two years ago, was substituted in the defeat against the Cottagers.

"He [Dawson] felt his [hamstring] muscle going in the first half. If we had brought him on in the second half we would be risking him a major injury," Villas-Boas added.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster, Joe Hart, Fraser Forster.

Defenders: Leighton Baines, Joleon Lescott, Steven Caulker, Steven Taylor, Ashley Cole, Glen Johnson, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker.

Midfielders: Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Leon Osman, Scott Parker, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Ashley Young.

Strikers: Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck.

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197 comments

  • Comment posted by ramshaw93, at 11:17 19 Mar 2013

    @1 and 4

    I've never been Taylors greatest fan but he's in great form and deserves to be called up.
    Compare him to the other defenders in the squad:
    Cahill: The only regular for his club
    Dawson: Slow/Injury Prone
    Lescott: 4th Choice forr City
    Smalling: 5th Choice for Man U
    Caulker: 5th Choice for Spurs

    Tayls deserves a chance when this is his competition.

  • Comment posted by User0424378878, at 11:43 19 Mar 2013

    Anyone who is possibly using this as an example of our lack of strength in depth astounds me? Taylor has been in fantastic form this season. And we've still left out Shawcross, who has been one of the best defenders in the league. Only top 4 "fans" can't see past their own team and can't fathom that other team's players could be as good as theirs.

  • Comment posted by TheGrimFandango, at 11:31 19 Mar 2013

    You can't say that Steven Taylor isn't good enough for England until he actually plays, and with all due respect to San Marino, this isn't even a game where he'll be playing against players good enough to really test - in theory.

    England have plenty of DECENT centre-halfs but no longer any outstanding ones and that shouldn't detract from the fact that Taylor is in good form for his club.

  • Comment posted by User0747570535, at 11:48 19 Mar 2013

    Stevie recently kept Samuel Eto'o in his pocket for 180 minutes, and the lad will throw himself into every challenge and in front of every ball. Do us proud Stevie like we know you will.

  • Comment posted by User0852956433, at 11:18 19 Mar 2013

    Desperate? Are you serious?

    The lads solid, his performance against Anzhi was nothing short of heroic. Blocked everything and anything that came his way.

    Should've been ahead of Lescott IMO. Well done Saylor.

  • Comment posted by charlessy, at 11:20 19 Mar 2013

    I think he deserves a call up. He's a fantastic centre half who doesn't get enough credit for his work at Newcastle. I hope he starts

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 11:27 19 Mar 2013

    You can guarantee that nobody in the England training camp this week will be trying harder than Steven Taylor. You can always tell how genuinely excited he is to be playing football and is always leaving everything on the pitch. An example to everyone who has a somewhat limited ability. Look where that kind of passion can take a player like Rino Gattuso...

  • Comment posted by Jeremy Cooper, at 12:08 19 Mar 2013

    Another class defender who's been overlooked by manager reluctance to look beyond Ferdinand and Terry. Ferdinand and Terry have had their time, Hodgson needs to get a new England Team ready for the World Cup next year if we're to stand any chance of doing well

  • Comment posted by Charlie, at 11:25 19 Mar 2013

    The peole who are criticising him and saying things like "wow we are desperate" obviously havent watched he lad play. He is in fine form and has been for almost ten games now. The stats speak for themself, over 90% pass accuracy, over 85% aerial duals won and a very high tackle success rate. Good luck to the lad, hope he gets a run out.

  • Comment posted by dbambrough, at 11:26 19 Mar 2013

    good luck to taylor. he has earned his place and it is about time playing for england was earned on merit rather some players who believe they have the automatic right to play for there country a la ferdinand. complains he is not in the team then cannot play any way

  • Comment posted by jarvish, at 12:46 19 Mar 2013

    Can't believe the PL is stopped at this stage in the season for England reserves to play San Marino and another random country no-one has heard of.

    International breaks should be taken out of the regular season to shorten the season by a month and then be consolidated at the end of the season in a month long qualifying tournament. Will also end the club vs country and fake injury farces.

  • Comment posted by Martin, at 11:30 19 Mar 2013

    Very pleased for Steven a real dedicated pro

  • Comment posted by User0270899051, at 11:27 19 Mar 2013

    So happy for Taylor, his performances recently have been incredible. Against Anzhi last week he threw himself in front of every shot. He has the courage and determination that England need. There was a match last year where he broke his nose in the first half, didn't complain, finished the game... and was then back in action a week later. There aren't enough players like him.

  • Comment posted by User0763631003, at 13:07 19 Mar 2013

    Jdandfries
    Good see a Boro fan posting absolute rubbish. You've been brought up watching tripe at the Riverside for years and desperate to undermine Newcastle at every opportunity.

    Taylor is an honest player that always gives 100%. He might not be technically the best but he'll always give his all, which certainly can't be said for some England players.

  • Comment posted by Paul, at 13:05 19 Mar 2013

    Not Taylors biggest fan, don't think he is in the top 6 CB's. However, give me his desire to play for England any day over his counterparts who choose their games and never fail to disappoint in big tournaments!

  • Comment posted by Hughie Gallacher, at 13:08 19 Mar 2013

    Come on, Roy. Start him against San Marino. After all, it's just a pub team.

  • Comment posted by User0632233255, at 12:37 19 Mar 2013

    Congrats to him, if you doubt him look at his preformence vs anzhi, plays with his heart of his sleeve and will put his body in the way of anything for his club. Just don't get injured Stevie!

  • Comment posted by User0871129166, at 12:13 19 Mar 2013

    I really cant understand the number of players being brought into the frame in front of Shawcross. 5 seasons now in the premier league with Stoke and now club captain. At the age of 25 we should be looking at players like him instead of Lescott.

  • Comment posted by Jamie Capper, at 13:03 19 Mar 2013

    Steven Taylor is a super defender, been a big fan of him since he was 'shot' about 6 years ago. (vs Villa I think it was!)

    Great defender, committed, strong in the tackle, gives it his all on the pitch.

  • Comment posted by colina5-1, at 13:10 19 Mar 2013

    as usual if you don,t play for Manchester Liverpool Arsenal Chelsea or Spurs how could you be good enough to play for England, time you lot watched other teams out there, they are some fine players playing for other teams but you lot are so blinkered you don,t see them . I remember all them players from those clubs in Africa Rooney, Gerrard etc useless if ST plays he,ll not let his country down

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