Poyet is pushing Lee for England
SUNDERLAND boss Gus Poyet is convinced it could be Lee Cattermole’s turn next time after the former England Under-21 midfielder was overlooked for Roy Hodgson’s full squad on Thursday.
Poyet, who takes his unbeaten side to QPR today, has been impressed by Cattermole this season, but admits the disciplinary problems the player has suffered in the past will be held against him.
Poyet said: “It’s true when you do things many times and these are the things people don’t like – because we’re talking about red cards here – you get a bad reputation. It doesn’t help.
“It depends what you want from your team. If I’ve got a defender that’s played 38 games, not received a yellow card and we are bottom of the table, I don’t want him because he never makes a tackle.
“If you have one like that and you are top of the league, you have the best defender in the world.
“I like players like Lee. I need one like him at least, but some managers don’t like a player who one day is going to get a red card.
“I don’t care, it’s part of the game. I got a few red cards when I was a player.
“Lee finished 20 games last year without being sent off and he has had nothing this season. He is enjoying his football and we lose the ball a lot less now.
“We are defending less so he doesn’t have to make so many tackles but that side of his game has improved dramatically.
“It’s all down to Lee. He needed to go to another level and he has done it.
“We are a different team when he is on the pitch and that’s important for him and for us. Maybe that will help him get into the England team.” Rodgers. “Everyone knows his quality and we have seen it this week in training. We have seen the sheer power and pace and the touch that he has.
“He wants to score goals and he wants to do it consistently now.”
The signing of Balotelli is likely to be Liverpool’s final arrival before the transfer window closes.
But the club remain keen to move on a number of players, with the writing on the wall for Brazil midfielder Lucas.
“There will probably movement out than coming would say,” said Rodgers.
“We’ve still got offers for players to go. Every player here knows their situation, so if they’re here after that deadline on Monday then they have decided to stay. But they are fully aware that their game time will be very limited.”
Of reaching the landmark of a century of games, with a win ratio second only to Kenny Dalglish’s first spell in charge, Rodgers spoke of his joy at bringing the feelgood factor back to the club.
“I’m very honoured to reach the 100 mark because I know at clubs of the size of Liverpool that sometimes does not happen for managers,” he said.
“It has flown by. I feel it myself with the supporters and there’s a real sense of where the club is at.
“There’s a real pride in Liverpool, on and off the field, in what we’re striving to achieve here.” more in, I