Parkes backs Green claims

Phil Parkes has urged Robert Green to keep his wits about him during England's FIFA 2010 World Cup qualifier against Andorra tonight.

England go into the Group 6 fixture against the minnows knowing victory would take them to within three points of reaching next summer's finals in South Africa.

SEE MORE FROM PHIL PARKES ON ROBERT GREEN ON WHUTV

Should he start, Green is expected to enjoy a quiet evening at Wembley, but former West Ham United and England stopper Parkes has warned the 29-year-old not to be caught out.

David Seaman was famously beaten by San Marino's David Gaultieri after just 8.3 seconds of England's 1994 World Cup qualifier in Bologna in November 1993, and Parkes does not want Green to suffer a similar fate.

"Games like Andorra are ones you expect to win and should be nice, comfortable games, but they could hit one from 30 yards or something and if he's not on his toes and it goes in and it's a soft goal," said Parkes, who earned his single England cap in a goalless draw against Portugal in Lisbon in April 1974.

"He's got to make sure that anything that does go in is not his fault."

As a player, Parkes found his way into the England side blocked by the likes of Peter Shilton, Ray Clemence and Joe Corrigan, who earned a total of 195 caps between them.

Green has been similarly frustrated in his quest to earn a regular international place, with the likes of David James, Paul Robinson, Scott Carson, Chris Kirkland and Ben Foster preferred by successive England managers.

Now, with Foster and James sidelined through injury, Green has been given a chance to stake his claim to become England's No1 on a full-time basis.

After keeping a clean sheet on his first start for his country in Kazakhstan on Saturday, the Hammer should earn his fourth cap on Wednesday.

"I think he has a great opportunity to cement his place in the England side," added Parkes. "I'm quite disappointed that he hasn't had more of a chance before.

"When I was playing I was up against the likes Peter Shilton, Ray Clemence and Joe Corrigan. We were all very good goalkeepers.

"I'm not a great lover of either David James or Ben Foster and, to me, Robert deserves to be the No1. Now he's got a chance due to injuries, he's got to take it. He's got to perform well in there so that when they get fit, he stays in there."