Downing and Young are the right men for England, says O'Neill


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Martin O'Neill, the Aston Villa manager, has touted his duo of Ashley Young and Stewart Downing for the right-sided midfield role that is up for grabs in the England squad after David Beckham's injury blow. James Milner appears a strong candidate to be part of Fabio Capello's World Cup squad because of his ability to play in several positions. But O'Neill feels Young and Downing can excel on England's right wing after Beckham's Achilles injury has almost certainly ruled him out. O'Neill, whose team travel to Wigan in the Premier League tonight (11.45pm on Showsports 1) said: "I don't know what the England manager had in mind, whether he was going to take David Beckham or not to the World Cup. The news coming out of the England camp suggests that he was - and therefore it is a blow. On the other hand, as you say, if there is an opportunity there, we have one or two players who actually play and can excel in that position." sports@thenational.ae

Did you know?

Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.

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