The former Stoke city player Gordon Banks has said that he is extremely confident that the Stoke city defender Ryan Shawcross can establish himself as an England international. Gordon Banks is regarded as one of the best players to have played for England, and he reckons that Ryan Shawcross can follow in his footsteps by becoming the next player from Stoke city to establish himself as an England international. The 25-year-old was recently called up for the England national duty by the manager Roy Hodgson. It is expected that the former Liverpool manager will be building his team around young players like Ryan Shawcross ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
England will be taking on San Marino at the Wembley, while they will be facing Poland away from home a few days later. The recent retirement announced by the Chelsea defender John Terry has caused the lot of selection headache for the England manager Roy Hodgson. Once again, the Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has not been called up for the squad. In his place, Hodgson has decided to bring in the former United defender Ryan Shawcross who joined Stoke city for around £ 1 million a few seasons ago.
“Ryan has done really well. I don’t know what the manager has in mind, but he might play him because San Marino are a side that England ought to beat. That doesn’t mean he will take a lot of chances, but he could give Ryan the experience while using more experienced England players around him. But if he doesn’t play, I don’t think it matters too much because I think he has a good chance of staying in the squad,” said the former England international Gordon Banks. Shawcross could become the first player since 1984 to win an England cap.