Fabio Capello has not been afraid to make some bold choices since becoming England coach 15 months ago, yet his decision to recall Ledley King to the squad this week is one that is threatening to backfire.

When the players start training today there is no guarantee King will take his place alongside them after finding himself in the middle of a row between club and country.

The 28-year-old's persistent knee problems means he can't train with his Tottenham team-mates and struggles to play more than once a week. Considering England face Slovakia on Saturday and Ukraine just four days later, it appears to undermine his usefulness to the national team.

No wonder Spurs and their manager, Harry Redknapp, are pushing for King's inclusion in the squad to be reversed, especially as their careful nursing has ensured he has played an important role in recent weeks to help them climb away from the relegation zone.

But it is because of his superb form that Capello wants to see for himself and former international Gary Pallister can understand why the Italian wants to involve King in his long-term plans.

While England are blessed with international-class first choice central defenders in John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, only Matthew Upson has proved himself to be a reliable back-up and Tottenham fans would have a strong case to argue that King's abilities are superior to the West Ham man.

Certainly Pallister is a strong advocate for King's talents and believes his presence in the squad is no gamble.

He said: "I don't think it's a surprise, he is a top-quality player. We have seen it before with his performances for England and we know how highly Tottenham rate him as well.

"John Terry and Rio are obviously first choice, but Ledley would have been pushing them for a place the last two years if not for his injuries.

"He is a player who could provide great cover to those two. He is also versatile, he can also play the holding role in midfield, and you want players like that in a squad at a World Cup.

"If either John or Rio were injured or suspended for one game at a tournament, he certainly could come in and do a job."

Pallister, who won 22 caps between 1988-96, is no stranger to seeing a player battle knee problems on a weekly basis to still star at the highest level.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson signed him from Middlesbrough in 1989 to replace the seemingly ailing Paul McGrath - who was suffering from recurrent knee problems.

Like McGrath, who went on to show his worth for several seasons at Aston Villa and was crowned PFA Player of the Year in 1993, King's problems are so severe he is unable to train normally and works out in the Spurs' swimming pool and gym instead.

But Pallister added: "Paul did his own thing for a number of years at United and Aston Villa and it still worked out. He spent all his time exercising on the bikes to keep his fitness up and I was amazed at the level he could play at.

"Ledley obviously also has his knee problem, which he is going to have to manage for the rest of his career, but his performances are still of a high standard and Capello obviously feels he is going to be a plus for the squad."

It would be a shame if King doesn't get a chance to end his two-year spell in the international wilderness. He played in all of Spurs' 38 League matches in the 2004/05 season - the only time he has done so - but his nightmare began in 2006 when he sustained cartilage damage in pre-season training and had to have an operation.

He only managed 26 appearances that season and a year later he was back in surgery after aggravating the problem while playing for England against Estonia in an early-summer international.

He didn't return to action of any kind until December 2007 and even then complained of how his knees swelled up after matches and only managed to participate in four League games for Spurs until the end of the season.

The defender missed the final few games of last season in a bid to be fit for the start of the current campaign but has still been in and out of the side, playing only 16 times in the Premier League so far.

Redknapp's revelation in December that King's left knee had no cartilage and was just 'bone-on-bone' was hardly a ringing endorsement for his condition, but Pallister insists King is still one of the best defenders in the country and should be considered.

Crucially, Capello was at White Hart Lane on Saturday to see it for himself when he kept in-form Chelsea striker Dider Drogba quiet and Pallister said: "Drogba is up there with the best in the world and is a test for any centre half. It's always a real battle and Capello will know he can stand up to that. He has the physique and quality to handle Didier and Capello was obviously suitably impressed by it."

It is unlikely Spurs will be impressed if he breaks down over the next few days while under Capello's care.