Woodgate For England Pleas Newcastle Boss Robson

By Matthew Jones
January 5 2004

Sir Bobby Robson has urged Sven Goran Eriksson to include Jonathan Woodgate in his Euro 2004 defense, with Rio Ferdinand serving an eight-month ban. Jimmy Walker

WOODY FOR ENGLAND

Sir Bobby Robson has urged Sven Goran Eriksson to include Jonathan Woodgate in his Euro 2004 defense, with Rio Ferdinand serving an eight-month ban.

Robson was asked to compare Woodgate to Ferdinand and said: "There was a time when they played at Leeds as a pair and were fantastic.

"Manchester United paid £30m for Ferdinand, and we got Woodgate for £9m - so we stole him actually. We bought him at the right time because the market got depressed.

"Jonathan's a top England player and as good as anything in Europe.

"It's just his stature and presence. He's a class player, and you can see that. He's got everything.

"He's good upstairs, is brilliant on the deck and has great anticipation. As well as that, he reads the game well, distributes well and is massive in the air."

"What we've got to do is keep him on the pitch. We haven't been able to do that, which has been a worry," he added. "He hasn't played anything like the number of games he should have for us.

"He's had three injuries which have kept him out, so we have to train him and look after him to build him up."

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