Capello calls up fourth division goalkeeper

May 24, 2008

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England coach Fabio Capello on Saturday handed a shock international call up to goalkeeper Joe Lewis who last season was playing in English League Two, the fourth tier of football in the country.

Lewis, who helped Peterborough to promotion to League One, was named in the squad for the forthcoming friendlies against the United States and Trinidad and Tobago.

Capello originally selected David James, Chris Kirkland and Joe Hart for the double-header.

But the 20-year-old Lewis has been added to the party because of fitness concerns over Kirkland, who has a back injury, while James has only recently returned from a calf injury.

Lewis had only made his debut for the Under-21 side as a substitute for Hart in the 2-0 win over Wales as recently as May 15.

But the goalkeeper was overjoyed by Capello's decision to promote him to the full squad.

“I am over the moon and thrilled with the call-up - it came out of the blue and I am enjoying every minute of it,” Lewis said. “I trained with the squad on Saturday morning and it was superb to be involved with the best players in the country.

“I managed to make a couple of good saves, which was a great feeling, especially from Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard. It is a great end to a fantastic season.”

Peterborough director of football Barry Fry felt the goalkeeper, who was signed from Norwich for 400,000 pounds in the January transfer window, will benefit from time with the squad.

“This is fantastic news for Joe and Peterborough United,” he told www.theposh.co.uk.

“I believe there has been an injury to one of the goalkeepers in the squad and they have called Joe up. It will be a fantastic experience for him.”

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