Kirkland tipped for England
Aug 15 2005
By John Curtis, Liverpool Echo
WEST BROM manager Bryan Robson is backing keeper Chris Kirkland to regain his place in the England squad if he can reproduce the level of performance he demonstrated before being hit by a series of injury problems.
Kirkland was widely tipped to take over from David Seaman as the England number one but he was dogged by injury worries, most notably a back complaint, after moving from Coventry to Liverpool in 2001.
The 24-year-old has joined the Baggies on a season-long loan from Anfield and produced a series of fine saves on his debut in Saturday's goalless draw at Manchester City.
It was not enough to earn him a spot in the England squad for the friendly international in Denmark but Robson has every faith in the player.
Robson said: "Can Chris get back in the England squad? First of all he has to make sure he is playing well enough to stay in my team and, if that is the case, we know that we've signed a top drawer keeper.
"He has been out for a long period of time and he has got to get back to the level of performance that he was constantly showing before he got injured.
"You can't take away quality like that. The only thing Chris has got to get over is the amount of injuries and the length of time he was out. But in pre-season his fitness has been very good.
"For all the young keepers, like Chris and Scott Carson there is a chance. But Chris has got to make sure he can prove to the England camp that he is worthy of a position there."
