Alan Curbishley has paid tribute to Robert Green and said he just has to "keep doing what he does" to earn international recognition.
The West Ham United No1 has been among the top-flight's leading goalkeepers this season but has yet to add to the one England cap he earned back in 2005. Paul Robinson, Scott Carson and David James are all ahead of him in the current pecking order - meaning Green was not involved in England's 3-2 home defeat by Croatia on Wednesday that confirmed their absence from EURO 2008.
In an interview featured on WHUTV, Curbishley said the 27-year-old just had to bide his time. "He is not far off that England squad," he said. "I think everybody knows that. He has got to just keep doing what he does. He can't do any more." At club level, Green has been instrumental in the run of five matches unbeaten, memorably saving a last-gasp penalty to earn a 0-0 draw at Portsmouth and producing heroics in the 3-1 home win against Sunderland
Despite regularly stealing the spotlight with his matchday contributions, Curbishley said Green, who moved to east London from Norwich City in January 2006, was not one for personal glory. "He is a big character in terms of size and stature," the manager said. "But he is quiet, he gets on with it and I have never seen someone work as hard in training. He is totally dedicated to becoming the best he can be."
Curbishley added that Green was a major factor in the survival fight last season, acknowledging that, upon taking charge in December, he had first to give him and his then rival Roy Carroll a chance to impress. "After about four or five games I bought Rob back and he has been there ever since. His performances not just in that run-in but since he came back into the side and this season have been superb." Green will get the chance to underline his credentials again this Sunday, when Tottenham Hotspur - featuring Robinson in goal - come to the Boleyn Ground.