The Football League Paper

KIRKLAND CAN STILL AIM FOR ENGLAND

- By Jason Wilson

DAVE JONES has thrown down the gauntlet to Chris Kirkland by telling his Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper that his internatio­nal career is not necessaril­y over.

The former Liverpool keeper saw his top-flight career slowly diminish as he has struggled with injuries for the best part of a decade.

But the 32-year-old, who won his solitary England cap against Greece in 2006, was an ever-present in the Owls’ Championsh­ip campaign and Jones wants him to push on and show the form that made him one of the most highlyrega­rded stoppers in the country.

“If you have aspiration­s to play at internatio­nal level, then never give up,” said Jones.

“I think that’s been proved. Look at (Kevin) Davies last year and (Rickie) Lambert this year, both of them 30-plus.

“You should never say never, You don’t know what’s around the corner. If they’ve got aspiration­s like that, then why not?”

 ??  ?? ONE CAP: Chris Kirkland
ONE CAP: Chris Kirkland

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom