Luke Young rejects Fabio Capello call-up after quitting international football

Simon Johnson
11 Nov 2009

Luke Young has turned down the chance to play for England against Brazil and confirmed his retirement from international football instead.

The Aston Villa right-back wasn't included in the initial squad for Saturday's friendly, but was called up by coach Fabio Capello after Liverpool's Glen Johnson withdrew last night through injury.

The England team boarded a flight to Doha, where the match is being played, this morning and it is unlikely anyone else will be called up at this stage. It means Manchester United defender Wes Brown is the only recognised right-back in the squad.

Young, who won the last of his seven caps against Argentina in 2005, was training with his club today and has yet to make a statement.

It is understood, though, that the 30-year-old told the Football Association in February he no longer wanted to be considered for England for personal reasons, having withdrawn from the friendly against Spain with a toe injury. But with England short of right-backs, Young was contacted to see whether he was still unavailable.

The former Tottenham and Charlton player has only just returned to Aston Villa's starting lineup following a thigh problem.

But more significantly he has been struggling to cope following the death of his half-brother Andre in August. The 17-year-old died from serious head injuries while on holiday in Crete. Young said: "In the first few weeks after what happened I didn't really want to do anything. It was really tough early on.

"Then you come in and train hard and get a sweat on and you can get stuck in and it gives you something else to think about.

"I have been back training for a while now and training really, really hard. I am ready to concentrate on football now and I'm looking forward to playing."

Former England international Gary Pallister believes people should respect Young's decision and not judge him too harshly.

He said: "It may look like a slap in the face when a player doesn't respond to the call of his country, but it's a personal thing to stop playing for England and he will have his reasons.

"It can be very hard to go away with England sometimes for days on end knowing you don't have a chance of playing and you're away from your family."

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, 31, was the last highprofile player to quit England, announcing in 2007 that he had becoming disillusioned at not being given a regular start in the team.

Meanwhile, Liam Miller has withdrawn from the Republic of Ireland squad for Saturday's World Cup play-off with France. The Hibernian midfielder underwent a scan on his damaged calf last night and was today back at his club after the injury ruled him out of the first leg game at Croke Park.