Goalkeeper one of seven City players set for international duty
JOHN RUDDY has been named in the 25-man England squad by manager Roy Hodgson to face Scotland in their friendly at Wembley on Wednesday August 14.The 26-year-old will have the opportunity to add to his solitary senior cap when the two sides meet three days before the new Premier League campaign begins next week.
He joins Joe Hart and Ben Foster in England’s goalkeeping ranks, with City coach Dave Watson working with the trio ahead of the match.
Ruddy could come up against Canaries teammates Russell Martin, Steven Whittaker and Robert Snodgrass, who are in Gordon Strachan’s squad for the game and all of whom started in their impressive recent World Cup qualifying victory over Croatia.
In other international news, attacking midfielder Wes Hoolahan is in Republic of Ireland’s final squad for their friendly against Wales.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s men travel to the Cardiff City Stadium next Wednesday, where Hoolahan could add to his six full international caps. Unfortunately, Anthony Pilkington had to withdraw from selection through injury.
Full-back Martin Olsson, a summer signing from Blackburn Rovers, is in contention to make his 16th appearance for Sweden when they take on neighbours Norway.
That friendly match takes place at the Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm next Wednesday.
Striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who netted his first goal for City in the friendly victory over Real Sociedad on Tuesday, is in Louis van Gaal’s provisional squad for the Netherlands’ clash with Portugal – the 24-year-old will find out whether he has made the cut at noon on Friday (August 9).
Meanwhile, Nathan Redmond will hope to make a similar impression for England Under-21s as he did in the European Championship earlier in the summer when they take on Scotland at Bramall Lane next Tuesday (13th).