Kieran Richardson has a World Cup dream

Mar 4 2010 by James Hunter, The Journal

SUNDERLAND’S Kieran Richardson has not given up hope of catching England boss Fabio Capello’s eye and rekindling his international career.

As a rising star at Manchester United, Richardson excelled in a loan spell with West Brom and was handed his international debut by then national coach Sven-Göran Eriksson in May 2005.

He made an instant impact, scoring twice on his debut in a 2-1 friendly win over the USA in Chicago in 2005, and he went on to win a further seven caps. However, his last outing in an England shirt came almost three-and-a-half years ago in a 1-1 friendly draw with Holland in November 2006, after which he was discarded by Eriksson’s successor, former Middlesbrough boss Steve McClaren.

Richardson made a £5.5m move to Sunderland in 2007 but has struggled to produce his best form for the Black Cats, and is one of a raft of players who could be on their way out of Wearside in the summer as part of boss Steve Bruce’s squad revamp.

Richardson accepts he will only earn an England recall if he can get his club form right

and his cause has not been helped by a troublesome calf injury, which has restricted him to just four appearances since Christmas.

Add to that the fact that injuries and suspensions have meant that he has been called upon to fill in at left-back and on the left wing rather than in his preferred central midfield role, and it is easy to see why his form has suffered.

But he refuses to accept that his England career ended at the Amsterdam ArenA.

“It’s very disappointing I have not kicked on and established myself in the squad, of course it is, but your form has to be right for your club first and foremost to get any recognition at international level,” said Richardson.

“This season has not particularly gone how it would have wanted, but I definitely want to play for my country again – there is no doubt about that.

“I’m gutted I’ve lost my place but, inside, I know I have the ability to do that again. I have never doubted my ability, never.