Delight And Disappointment

Glenn Roeder says that Trevor Sinclair has taken his omission from the England squad on the chin - while David James says his next goal, having got into it, is now aiming to get a regular place between the sticks.

"I am disappointed for Trevor but he has taken it like a man," says Glenn.

"I am obviously also disappointed for Michael as well - but he has got three World Cups to come, and the fact that he is going to Switzerland with the U21s means he is guaranteed starts as opposed to being on the bench.

"Naturally, I am delighted for Joe and David to be going to Japan."

Of Joe's selection, England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson says:

"I have seen Joe a lot of times this season, and so have Tord and our scouts.

"Even though he is not that experienced, and has not played too many Premiership games, he is something special.

"He can change a game whether he starts a game or comes on as a sub, and in a squad of 23 you have to include players like him."

As for David James, the aim is to now force his way into becoming England's number one and he insists:

"I am over the moon but everybody who is in the squad will be going there with an aim to play, and if you are not selected then you look forward to the next game - it is a team event."

David heard he was in the squad from Ludek Miklosko on the training ground on Thursday, and says:

"When Ludo told me half way through training and I started saving a few!"

For him, the selection compensates for missing out on Euro 2000, and he says:

"Well you can only take each event as it happens; with Euro 2000 I was in the pre-tournament squad, and I was told before hand that I wasn't going to travel.

"It was a very mixed emotion for me, but at the same time it was my first time back in the squad, so I was happy in one way.

"But this time when we get out there it is up to me to perform, and when given the opportunity that is what I will do.

"As far as I am concerned there is not an 'order' of goalkeepers, we are a team; I think that the classic example was Italy in Euro 2000, where a keeper went as the outstanding number one but another keeper came in through injury.

"We've got a game against Bolton on Saturday, so I will play that, and then there is a trip to Dubai; after that the preparations will start.

"One thing about Mr Eriksson is that the preparations will be spot on and he will pick his best side - so if I get called up to play it will be because I have earned it."

He admits that at the start of the season when he was injured he feared that he might miss out on the World Cup, and adds:

"When I had the injury, twenty four hours afterwards I was depressed, and there were some bad thoughts going through my head - but the season has gone very well for me and I have been delighted with what has happened.

 "That has been courtesy of Glenn's faith in me as a manager for one, and the team that I have got behind me, as well - so I am delighted at the moment."

He reveals that coming to West Ham improved his form, and he says:

"I felt that what Glenn was offering me here was going to enhance my England chances, and, as I said, I have been delighted with my form this year - albeit not for a full season.

"But I cannot complain about anything and that is a result of the environment that we are in, which I am happy with that."