Ryan Shawcross Links Up With England Squad

Posted Monday, March 01, 2010 by Goal.com

Stoke City defender Ryan Shawcross joined up with the England squad for the first time after a motivational talk with Potters manager Tony Pulis.

The 22-year-old has been in the headlines this weekend for all the wrong reasons after his challenge broke the leg of Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, during the Gunners' 3-1 win at the Brittania Stadium on Saturday,.

The former Manchester United youngster left the field in tears after being sent-off but was named in Fabio Capello's squad for Wednesday's friendly with Egypt at Wembley.

Some reports on Sunday claimed that Shawcross was reluctant to join up with the rest of the 23-man-party, so distraught was he at the fall-out from his ill-judged tackle, but he teamed up with the squad at their Hertfordshire base on Sunday night, and will be in contention to make his first England appearance, with senior defenders Rio Ferdinand, Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate all absent through injury.

Arsenal yesterday confirmed that Ramsey had underwent surgery on a fractured tibia and fibula, and would be missing at least for the rest of the season. Other reports suggest that the Welshman could be facing up to a year on the sidelines.