http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_7165328,00.html Jermaine Jenas is hoping recapturing his best form for Aston Villa will be good enough to see him win an England recall. The 28-year-old moved to Villa Park on loan from Tottenham before the transfer window closed after slipping down Harry Redknapp's pecking order. Jenas has won 21 caps for his country during his career, but his last came nearly two years ago against Brazil in Doha. He accepts a lack of first-team chances at Spurs left Fabio Capello with little option but to omit him, although he now hopes to put a frustrating spell behind him at Villa. England are primed to qualify for next summer's European Championship and Jenas sees no reason why he cannot return to the fold if he plays well enough for Villa before the tournament in Poland and Ukraine. "First and foremost I've got a list of objectives I would love to achieve this year," explained Jenas. "I've got to get into this Villa team and get a run of games under my belt. "If I can do that, and get some form going, I've always been confident that I'm good enough to play for England. "It has been very frustrating for me but I'm hoping to put that behind me this year, get my head down, work hard, and hopefully the England calls will start coming at some time. "It's just always been a problem the last couple of years that I haven't been able to get the run of games at Tottenham. "To be fair to Fabio, he hasn't even had the chance to select me but, if I get that run, then come the end of the season my name will be in the hat for the European Championships. "I wouldn't say it is a case of having a point to prove but I would like to get out there and show what I can do." ---------------- Love his confidence but can't see it happening.
If he can't get into the Spurs first team, how does he think he's going to get into the England squad? Seems more expectation from him than hope which is worrying in itself.
Shame he couldn't make the connection between playing consistently well for Tottenham and playing for England. Maybe someone at Villa has told him about the responsibilites of a professional footballer and the consequences of putting a shift in, or not.
The crying shame is he has everything in his locker to be a top midfielder. Unfortunately he rarely finds the bloody key to it.
How on earth did he manage to get 21 caps?? I suppose nothing is impossible. However,it could only happen shortly after you see a flock of pigs go past your window!
He's a lot better than most here give him credit for, not suggesting he should be first choice for us, but as Chirpy says, he does have a lot of the attributes to be a top midfielder. The things he did for us that were good were not flukes, he has the ability, just didn't show it often enough. For example, against Inter away he's the guy that breaks up their attack, then keeps pace with Bale the entire length of the pitch when Bale scores one of his stunners. He also scored at least one great goal against the Ars. I assume I'll see him one day in those "worst Spurs teams" threads that appear from time to time, but it would not be fair. He was almost very good, and was also loyal. You didn't hear anything from him when not in the team, dropped or whatever. I believe give credit where its due and give him a good reception if/when he comes back to WHL with Villa.
vim, I rather sense that you, like me, are something of fan of Jenas. Yes, he was infuriating for us fans of his, that he never seemed to be able to maintain the kinds of performances that we know he is capable of, but I would still have preferred to have had him on the field for us in those tough games that we ended up losing. I think he needed the love and commitment of a manager who can see what he can add to a squad, and he hasn't received it from Harry. I strongly suspect that McLeish will tap into that hidden 20% that Harry could simply not be arsed to find, and Jenas will show everyone why he was one of Morhinio's favourite players.
