Michael Ricketts is on the plane to World Cup after holiday mix-up

FABIO CAPELLO’S World Cup plans have been thrown into disarray after it was revealed that ex-Leeds United striker Michael Ricketts has inadvertently booked the first seat on England’s plane to this summer’s finals.

Once-capped Ricketts’ place on flight BA0055 to Johannesburg means Capello must now name a pared down squad of 22, and attempt to make use of the veteran forward, who claims he booked his plane ticket accidentally.

“I was just looking forward to a relaxing three week city break in Johannesburg,” said Ricketts, of no fixed club. “I had no idea there was any kind of international football tournament taking place. My only plans involved a trip to the Mandela Museum and a Michael Crichton paperback, but if I have to play in the World Cup then so be it.”

A sanguine Capello has played down the incident, saying “he’s got international experience and gives us another option up front. It’s not an option we knew or thought we wanted the option to have, but it’s an option.”

Due to the Italian’s strict disciplinarian approach he is opposed to team members flying separately, and refuses to condone a later flight for now-former squad hopefuls such as James Milner, Wes Brown and Paul Merson. Capello has also vetoed Robert Green’s plans to use the journey to the tournament as a good excuse to take the cruise around the African coast he has been thinking about for a while.

The Italian England boss has also turned down Michael Owen’s offer to change his surname by deed poll and to pay Ricketts in full for the ticket. “This solves nothing,” he said.

Suspicions are rife among England’s players that Ricketts booked his plane ticket on purpose, and sees the World Cup as a chance to break back into the England set-up at the age of 31. “I just don’t trust him,” said England veteran David James. “There’s no two ways about it, going on holiday on your own is just plain weird. Put it this way, I’m not going to be sharing rooms with him.”

Published April 21, 2010

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