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England axe fired up Wright-Phillips
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-10 09:43 LONDON: Being dropped from the England squad can be a soul-destroying experience but if any player is equipped to return stronger than ever then it is Shaun Wright-Phillips.
When the winger, fresh from his move back to Manchester City, discovered that England coach Fabio Capello had left him out of the squad for Sept's World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia, he could have been forgiven for feeling slighted. After all, he scored in Fabio Capello's first match in charge against Switzerland last season and looked set to become a regular member of the Italian's squad. But three years being treated like a spare part at Chelsea had given Wright-Phillips a steely approach to dealing with the dent to confidence and pride that comes with international exile. The 26-year-old used the disappointment as an incentive to recapture the verve that first made him a Premier League sensation at City before his ill-fated move to Stamford Bridge. Liberated by regular football with Mark Hughes' side and fired up to prove Capello wrong, Wright-Phillips has been in scintillating form over the last month. Capello has taken notice and restored Wright-Phillips to the squad for Saturday's qualifier against Kazakhstan at Wembley and the trip to Belarus the following Wednesday. "It gave me a kick up the arse to be honest, because I knew I had to get myself into gear and get back to what I used to be; exciting to watch and full of confidence," Wright-Phillips said. "I've gone back to City a lot wiser and a lot more mature on and off the field. Giving in is not part of my nature. The mental side of things has helped me a lot. "I've just become wiser on the pitch with my decisions. I put it down to every manager and coach I played under while I was there. They all played a part because everyone gives you something different and it's up to you whether you want to take it on board." Now Wright-Phillips wants to show England fans the same form that has dazzled City regulars - even if it means playing out of position. With Theo Walcott certain to start on the right-wing after his hat-trick in Croatia last month, Wright-Phillips knows he might have to shift to the left flank to get a place. "I could most probably play there. I've played everywhere at City. There's a lot of movement so a lot of the time I'm on the left, a lot of the time I'm on the right and I'm down the middle as well," he said. "It doesn't change my game plan either way. "I just want to get back to being positive and helping the team. As long as I'm in a position to help the team, whether I set someone up or I score or clear something off the line, that makes me happy."
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