Soccer: Brown running out of time for World Cup

Manchester United fear Wes Brown is right to be gloomy about his chances of making England’s squad for the World Cup finals.

Brown made his latest comeback from injury for the reserves in midweek and feels he is running out of time to impress coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Brown’s name will be missing when Eriksson names his squad for England’s latest warm-up match against Italy at Elland Road on Wednesday.

The centre-half has been dogged by injury for the past three months and he had just returned from two months out with a medial ligaments problem only to damage his ankle in training five weeks ago.

United first-team coach Mike Phelan reckons the 22-year-old will probably miss out on going to Japan, but feels he will play in many other major tournaments with England.

‘‘It’s a case of being in the squads up to the World Cup so that you can be in the frame for selection,’’ he said on MUTV.

‘‘I don’t think it would come out of the blue that Wes would be included. It’s just unfortunate that his injury has happened at this late stage, but he’s young enough.

‘‘He’s got loads and loads of time as long as England keep qualifying for these competitions and I’m sure he will be involved in more than he will miss.’’