Stilian Petrov backs Stephen Warnock to make England's World Cup squad

The Aston Villa captain Stilian Petrov has championed Stephen Warnock's case for inclusion in the England squad for next month's friendly against Egypt, and potentially the summer's World Cup finals, after the left-back returned from a shin complaint far sooner than had originally been expected. Warnock played the full 90 minutes of Villa's FA Cup fifth-round tie at Crystal Palace yesterday following a three-week absence after complaining of pain in his shin during the fourth-round victory over Brighton & Hove Albion. Having broken the same leg three times as a teenager, there were fears that the discomfort might be related to the site of the original fracture and could prompt an extended spell on the sidelines, threatening his place in the Villa team to play Manchester United in the Carling Cup final on 28 February. However, those fears have since been allayed, with Warnock's ability to impress at Selhurst Park despite having only returned to light training on the Thursday before the game testament to the 28-year-old's commitment. "He's been out of the side for a few weeks and hasn't trained properly, yet he's performed brilliantly after that time on the sidelines," said Petrov. "He's played and he hasn't felt anything [in the shin], which is really promising. He's looking after himself, he's a fit boy and, when you've got players like that, the manager really trusts them. "It's great to have him back because he gives us a different dimension at left-back. We haven't had that for a long time since [Wilfred] Bouma got injured. Stephen came into the side and had been playing brilliantly. Why wouldn't he be in contention to go to South Africa with England? He's been playing magnificently and has got every chance of making Fabio Capello's squad for the World Cup." Warnock's prospects of adding to his solitary cap – the eight-minute substitute's appearance against Trinidad & Tobago in June 2008 means he shares the dubious honour of having the shortest England career with Peter Ward and Jimmy Barrett – appear to have benefited from the fractured ankle sustained by Capello's regular No3, Ashley Cole, during Chelsea's recent defeat at Everton. Cole will be absent for up to three months, ruling him out of the Egypt game and handing the likes of Warnock, Manchester City's Wayne Bridge and Leighton Baines of Everton an opportunity to impress. Capello watched Bridge in City's 1-1 draw with Stoke on Saturday and, should his form be maintained, the 29-year-old would be the Italian's first-choice as Cole's replacement. However, while Baines is expected to be named in the England squad for the game against the Egyptians, Warnock can yet earn inclusion. The Villa full-back, signed from Blackburn for £7m last summer, has been outstanding this season and was an unused substitute for England's 1-0 defeat to Brazil in Doha in November. He, perhaps more than many of Villa's players, may benefit from the FA Cup replay with Palace being scheduled just four days before the Carling Cup final with that another opportunity to regain match fitness. "We'll take the replay," added Petrov, whose first goal of the season three minutes from time at Selhurst Park earned the Premier League a rematch. "If we have to play them a few days before the game at Wembley, so be it. That's why we have a squad. As long as we get into the next round, that's the main thing. "This club and its fans have been crying out for silverware. That's our first objective, and then to break into the top four. So far this season, we've got a chance. We're in the final of one of the cups, we can still make it into the last eight of the FA Cup, and we've still got a chance for fourth place. We have been consistent this season and that's got us in this situation. We have an opportunity to win something, particularly with Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all out of the FA Cup already."