UNITED star Jonathan Woodgate's World Cup hopes and international future may
become clearer today as England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson seeks final
clarification from the FA over the defender's availability for the national
squad.
Woodgate was exiled from selection by the FA following his high profile
court case and conviction for affray last year, with any further decision
shelved until he had completed his sentence of 100 hours community service.

The 22 year old has now completed his sentence and is also back in the Leeds
first-team alongside England regular Rio Ferdinand.

Eriksson's assistant, Tord Grip, was at Elland Road on Sunday to assess
first hand a central defensive partnership that Eriksson is know to be keen
to have available for England.

Now Eriksson is waiting for the FA, under the guidance of chief executive
Adam Crozier, to decide Woodgate's immediate international future which
could play a major part in England's plans for the World Cup and talks are
believed to have taken place last night.

The FA are thought to be against a reprieve for the player because of his
conviction, but Eriksson is know to be a big Woodgate fan and may be
prepared to push hard to make him available for selection for next week's
friendly against Italy at Elland Road.

The England squad is due to be announced following Saturday's round of
Premiership fixtures.

====
"Love is like oxygen. Love is a many splendid thing, Love lifts us up where
we belong, All you need is love!"


_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.