Michael Carrick given chance by Fabio Capello to impress for England

Michael Carrick given chance by Fabio Capello to impress for England

England coach Fabio Capello pulled off something of a surprise by including Michael Carrick in his squad for the friendly international against the Czech Republic at Wembley on Wednesday.

Michael Carrick given chance by Fabio Capello to impress for England

Big appetite: Michael Carrick wants a taste of international football

The fulcrum of the Manchester United midfield, Carrick has grown in influence and responsibility. His passing is famously unerring, frequently stirring. He has become tactically savvy, an improved reader of middle-third geometrics, closing and opening the angles of play. Having turned 27 at the end of last month he is at the peak of his powers. But Capello was widely expected to ignore him for the match.

"England is something I want to be part of with a new World Cup campaign coming up," Carrick said, before the announcement. "It's a good place to be, playing for your country. I've managed to do it in the past and to be involved again would be great. I think my game is suited to international football. I've played a few games for England and done OK. I've had a taste of it and I want more, so we'll see."

Carrick has just 14 caps, of which only four have come in competitive games. He has played in a series of high-profile friendlies against Germany, Spain, Brazil and Holland in the last two years, none of which England won. Capello selected him for his first provisional squad, for the Switzerland game back in February, but dropped him when the squad was slimmed down.

He had not picked him since. Carrick gets another chance to convince the England manager of his merits this afternoon when he takes on Newcastle United, the hometown club he supported as a boy, hoping to take the form of last season's dramatic run-in into the new campaign.

"I have never played better," Carrick said of last season's exploits. "You have to judge it on the size of the games you are playing. And last season we were going for everything and every game was such a big game – so the fact I managed to perform to my best was very satisfying. But you can't rest on that, you want to improve and get better. Me, personally, I want to keep improving, be successful and win more things.''

When asked last week about Carrick's expected omission, Capello made sure to stress that there was nothing fundamental about his non-selection. "I never close the door to anyone," he said. "I know him very well and saw lots of his games last season. He is a very good player and it is possible. We have to wait until the next game because after the games it is possible there will be injuries and we have to decide then."

Carrick seemed to be behind­ Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Owen Hargreaves, Jermaine Jenas and Tom Huddlestone in the competition for a place in central midfielder. It was threatening to become a frustrating state of affairs but Carrick, rightly, refused to dwell on it. "I don't get too involved in it really," he explained. "As a player you do what you can and look after what you can control. I was playing well and being successful at United so that was my main concern. This season could be a fresh start to press my claims. I'm just trying to get fitter and look forward to the start of the season. Whatever comes after that is a bonus."

United's start will be closely scrutinised today. With Cristiano Ronaldo recuperating from ankle surgery, Wayne Rooney still groggy from a virus and attempts to sign Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham not yet reaching fruition, goals could be difficult to come by. As was the case with last week's Community Shield, a lot of striking responsibility rests with Carlos Tevez.

Furthermore, Carrick believes United's successes of last season will make them an even greater target for opponents than usual. "Being champions two years on the spin makes you a big scalp and everyone is going for it against us," he said. "We managed to overcome that challenge last season and once you've had that success, it drives you on even more. We'll improve this season as well as other teams, and it's about who can do it over the course of a season and be consistent. We've managed to do it over the last couple of seasons but it's a test again for us. We start again – and we're ready for it."

ENGLAND (squad for friendly against Czech Republic at Wembley on Wednesday): James (Portsmouth), Robinson (Blackburn), Hart (Manchester City), Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Woodgate (Tottenham), Upson (West Ham), Walcott (Arsenal), Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Gerrard (Liverpool), Carrick (Manchester United), Downing (Middlesbrough), Bentley (Tottenham), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth), Heskey (Wigan).