Wheater tipped to bounce back
by Joseph Caron Dawe, 24 March 2008
Emanuel Pogatetz believes Middlesbrough team-mate David Wheater can bounce back from his England omission and go on to establish himself as a Three Lions regular in the future.
The 21-year-old made Fabio Capello’s initial 30-man squad for the France friendly but failed to make the final cut of 23, and Pogatetz is backing his colleague to come back stronger from the disappointment.
"David is somebody who plays as though he's playing football in the park," said Pogatetz in The Northern Echo.
"Everything comes naturally to him and he doesn't worry about anything, and that will stand him in good stead. He will handle anything that comes into his stride.
"I'm so happy for him that he got his call-up in the first place.
"International football will be great for him and I'm sure he'll go on to play for England lots of times in the future. He's been playing with so much freedom all season, and he'll be a massive asset for Middlesbrough for many years to come."
Stewart Downing did make the cut, and Boro boss Gareth Southgate says it is no less than the winger’s form deserves.
"Stewart's recent form has been as good as it has ever been," said Southgate.
"He has started to score away from home as well as at The Riverside - he scored a big goal at Everton and at Villa Park - and he has been a real handful for opposition defences.
"He deserves to be back in the England squad. It's great that he has been picked by a different England manager (from Steve McClaren).
"He is playing very well at the minute and his call-up is a reward for that."