LONDON -- When England announced that a Preston North End player had been called up for the squad to play Israel in Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifying tie it was further proof that the current batch of players available to the national team is hardly vintage.
No disrespect to David Nugent, a striker who is having a fine season for Preston, but he would be the first outfield player from the Championship to represent England this century if he sees any action in Tel Aviv. This is a game England must win to keep realistic hopes of qualification alive and not a match for a Championship international rookie.