Nigel Reo-Coker refuses to give up on England chance
Nigel Reo-Coker is refusing to give up hope of forcing his way into England coach Fabio Capello's plans for the 2012 European Championships.
Nigel Reo-Coker is refusing to give up hope of forcing his way into England coach Fabio Capello's plans for the 2012 European Championships.
The tough-tackling midfielder has been in impressive form for Villa this season having been given a new lease of life since Martin O'Neill left the club in August.
Reo-Coker is a former captain of the England Under-21 side and led them to the semi-finals of the 2007 European Championships, where he missed the decisive penalty in a 13-12 shoot-out with the Netherlands.
He went on to win 23 caps for the Under-21 side and was on standby for England's 2006 World Cup squad, but full international honours have so far eluded him.
Reo-Coker even toyed with the idea of playing for Sierra Leone - the country of his birth - but has since opted to try and force his way into the England set-up.
"That is something I have never given up on," said Reo-Coker. "I believe I am good enough to play at that level and it is a matter of being given the opportunity.
"With that situation, you look at Gareth Barry when he was here. He was only given the opportunity because of the fact Frank Lampard was injured.
"You just have to look at the amount of England players that make it into the squad from this club. I haven't given up hope of being involved."
Reo-Coker's Villa future remains uncertain with his contract set to expire at the end of the season and he has been strongly linked with a move abroad.
And if he leaves this summer he believes Villa fans have perhaps not really seen the best of him since he joined the club from West Ham in July 2007.
"What people have to understand is that I was an old-fashioned box-to-box player when I came here and since then I've had to convert to the roles the managers have wanted me to play," explained the 27-year-old midfielder.
"It's very disappointing that I haven't scored more, for example, but I've been more of a defensive midfielder in front of the back four and I haven't really been given the freedom to express myself."
