JOHN TERRY is looking over his shoulder — and he is in danger of getting a
very stiff neck.
The England skipper can see a whole wave of youngsters threatening to swamp
the old guard.
And by the time the Euro 2012 finals come round next summer — provided England
qualify — Fabio Capello could be fielding a very different team to the one
which flopped at the World Cup.
Manchester United’s Chris Smalling, at right-back, might be the only new
inclusion tomorrow.
But the injured Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck are banging hard on the door
while centre-half Phil Jones is tipped as a certain starter of the future
and his Manchester United team-mate Tom Cleverley has suddenly burst on the
scene.
Ten years ago Gary Neville welcomed the end of the old era and the start of a
new one when Sven Goran Eriksson built on caretaker Peter Taylor’s
experiment of throwing in the youngsters in a friendly in Italy.
There is a feeling another revolution is on the way. And Terry, 30, said:
“When you look at Smalling and Jones as well, they’ve really got some great
ability.
“Certainly me and all the other players feel that pressure of them pushing us
and fighting for places. In the long-term, that’s great for the whole squad.
“I’m really impressed with Jones. For me, he’s the one who really sticks out
in our position. He’s one I’m looking over my shoulder at.
“He clearly wants a place in the England side, whether that’s mine or someone
else’s.
“He made his debut against Chelsea, played very well against Didier Drogba and
got Sky’s man-of-the-match.
“Even after that, the lads were talking and were eager for Chelsea to go and
sign him.
“I’ve had the opportunity to play with him a couple of times in training and
he reads it very well. He has all the attributes.
“Being at a club like United has helped him in a very short space of time.
He’s got the likes of Rio and Vidic to learn from.
“The young lads just feel as though they belong here.
“It helps there’s a big group of Manchester players. They’re all very
comfortable and looking at the way they’ve come in and expressed themselves
has been great.”