LONDON: England striker Danny Welbeck backed Rio Ferdinand to resurrect his international career on Tuesday after the veteran Manchester United defender was axed by Fabio Capello.
Ferdinand's omission from the England squad to face Montenegro was the biggest surprise as Capello looks to seal qualification for the Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine on Friday.
However rising United star Welbeck insisted Ferdinand, 32, was capable of forcing his way back into the squad, describing his club-mate as “a Rolls-Royce of a defender.”
We all know what capabilities he's got - he's a Rolls-Royce of a defender,” Welbeck told a press conference after an England training session.
“It's wrong to write him off. We all know the ability he's got.”
Ferdinand has battled back to fitness after suffering a hamstring strain in August which ruled him out of England's matches with Bulgaria and Wales.
However Capello omitted the defender believing he needs more match practice.
Welbeck meanwhile said he would be happy to link up with United team-mate Wayne Rooney in the England attack, saying his game had benefited from the striker's advice.
“He's been on fire, he has started the season scoring goals and creating goals. To be training with him every day is a bonus and I'm going to learn from him,” Welbeck said of Rooney.
“He's a great guy to go to for advice, he's always talking to you during training and it's been really beneficial.
“Because we've been training together for a couple of years now it would work (as a partnership for England).”
Although England need only a point to progress in Podgorica on Friday, Welbeck said Capello's men would go for a win.
“I don't think it would be right to go to Montenegro and play for a point, our aim is to win every game we go into and I don't see why we can't do that,” he said.
Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.