Woodgate close to England recall

Steve McClaren has promised Jonathan Woodgate that he is on the brink of an England recall.

Woodgate was not included in McClaren’s squad for this week’s Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia.

But the England boss saw him produce another excellent performance for Middlesbrough at Sheffield United yesterday.

Former Boro boss McClaren said: “He was very close to this squad and he’s one who we are looking at.”

The England boss wants to see Woodgate string more games together for his club after a nightmare sequence of injuries plagued his last two seasons at Real Madrid.

“He has a good opportunity at Middlesbrough,” said McClaren. “It’s his home town and he’s playing well at the moment.

“But his games have been limited and he has to build up that kind of fitness over a season.”