Gianfranco Zola believes goalkeeper Robert Green can become England's No1 at next summer's FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.
The West Ham United stopper has been in consistent form this season, underlined by a fourth clean sheet in five games last Saturday by keeping Sunderland at bay for 90 minutes. Green is certainly in Fabio Capello's thoughts, having won his second full England cap in the 2-0 friendly defeat by Spain in Seville in February.
The 29-year-old was in Capello's squad for last week's 4-0 friendly win over Slovakia and 2-1 Group 6 qualifying triumph over Ukraine at Wembley, but was left out of the matchday selection in favour of Portsmouth's David James and Manchester United's Ben Foster for both fixtures.
However, with England on course for the finals in South Africa after winning all five of their qualifying matches so far, Zola believes the Hammers goalkeeper can overtake both James and Foster and earn a starting place at next year's tournament. Rather than have his confidence knocked by his recent omission, the manager said Green has the attitude and ability to force his way into Capello's first eleven.
"For me, he has to continue doing what he has been doing for West Ham. He has to carry on performing the way he has been performing and I'm sure he will find a way to be No1 for England as well. That's the only way he can do that. His consideration in the national team has grown very much since the beginning of the season. He just needs to persist.
"I don't think he's worried. I know Robert very well and I'm sure this will be a reason to push himself even harder. I've learned a lot about Robert and I'm sure he will be even stronger after this and for me he will achieve that and has a very good chance to be No1 at the World Cup."