World Cup 2010 deadline for Gareth Barry extended by Fabio Capello

Posted Wednesday, May 26, 2010 by theguardian.com

• Gareth Barry given until 1 June to prove fitness
• England midfielder to visit specialist again

Fabio Capello's desperation to include Gareth Barry in his World Cup squad means the England coach will delay making any final decision on the midfielder's participation until as late as 1 June, the eve of the team's departure for South Africa.

Barry damaged ankle ligaments during Manchester City's defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on 5 May and travelled to London today to be examined by James Calder, a leading orthopaedic surgeon, with his place at the tournament effectively at stake. However, while the 29-year-old is still some way short of completing a full recovery, the specialist's assessment did apparently offer Capello enough encouragement to suggest the midfielder could yet return to training within a fortnight.

That prompted the Italian to extend the deadline for Barry to prove his fitness. England's opening group game, against the United States in Rustenburg, is now 17 days away and, while it seems implausible that he would be available for that match, the possibility remains that Barry could regain a place in the starting line-up by the end of the group phase. It was that hope that initially persuaded the management staff to retain him in their provisional 30-man squad for the tournament despite knowing that ankle ligament damage of this severity can take up to two months to heal properly.

Capello has long insisted he would not carry an injured player into the finals, though his reliance upon Barry has been clear through his reign to date, and was reinforced by Mexico's alarming dominance of possession for long period's in Monday's friendly at Wembley. "Barry has always played with me," admitted the Italian after that game. "He is one of the most important players. After [Owen] Hargreaves, it was Barry [as defensive midfielder]. He is really important."

Hargreaves, the most natural replacement as Capello's defensive midfield shield, has been restricted to under a minute of first-team football at Manchester United since September 2008 after protracted knee complaints though the England set-up did consider a surprise recall ahead of announcing their provisional party. His club-mate, Michael Carrick, failed to impress against Mexico and, with the other understudies either lacking the experience or mobility to prosper, Capello has been reluctantly left contemplating moving Steven Gerrard back into a central role alongside Frank Lampard should Barry be ruled out. The Liverpool midfielder played in the position, albeit largely alongside Tom Huddlestone, for the second half on Monday.

Barry, who has been sleeping in an oxygen tent in an attempt to speed up the rehabilitation process, was accompanied to the specialist by the England team doctor, Ian Beasley, and the head physiotherapist, Gary Lewin, along with members of City's medical staff. He later returned to Carrington to resume treatment – he is only able to undertake light training at present – and will now be reassessed by the specialist and England's medical team on Monday once the squad have returned from Austria, where they will have played Japan in a friendly in Graz some 24 hours previously. Capello has pledged to telephone the seven players to be omitted from his party on that Monday.