INTERVIEW

Thursday, February 17, 4:08pm London Time
Wise gets 'all-clear' and England place
By Michael Hart


There were two bulletins of good news for Dennis Wise today.

First, the Chelsea captain learned that he may escape blame for the mass brawl between players in the tunnel after the Wimbledon game.

Then, Wise was recalled by England, four years after his last international.

Wise was named by England manager Kevin Keegan in a 24-strong squad for next Wednesday's Wembley friendly against Argentina.

It is unlikely that Keegan would have picked Wise if the 33-year-old midfield player is going to be in serious trouble over the tunnel punch-up against Wimbledon at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

And, talking on radio station Talk Sport this morning, Chelsea coach Ray Wilkins said: "Kevin would probably have seen the official report and it basically exonerates Dennis. I have not actually seen it myself but I have spoken to a few people who have and it stated that Dennis did not have too much to do with the incident."

Last month, Keegan ruled Wimbledon's Ben Thatcher out of international contention after an elbowing incident involving Sunderland's Nicky Summerbee, but the England coach clearly takes a different view of last weekend's controversial events.

Keegan said today: "I haven't brought him back. He was in my last squad. He is in the England 24 because he deserves to be. It would be wrong of me to pre-empt anything that happened against Wimbledon."

As well as Wise, there are call-ups for Aston Villa's Gareth Barry and Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard.

Wise, who made his England debut against Turkey in 1991, won the last of his 12 caps as a substitute in the 3-0 win over Hungary in May,

1996. The inclusion of Barry, who is 19 on the day of the Argentina match, and Gerrard underline Keegan's wish to reduce the average age of his squad.