There is always going to be a dispute in the caucuses of football when a 20 year old is picked to play for England and has no top flight experience. This is indeed the case with young Michael Mancienne.
It has been a topsy turvy couple of months for the defender who one minute was getting loaned out to first division Wolverhampton Wonderers, and the next was being called into the England squad to face Germany.
There is certainly no argument from England Captain John Terry who is of the opinion that Mancienne more than warrants his place in the squad, referring to him as “A great talent” and “Amazing.”
As aforementioned his inclusion has shocked and surprised certain members of The football fraternity. Anyone that knows the score though will be aware that it is no more than what the young man deserves.
He was just nine when he was noticed playing for Kingstonian and he made his reserve debut for Chelsea while still learning in school. He signed a contract for the club while Jose Mourinho was still the manager.
He was really a cut above when playing in the reserve games so when John Gregory was given the opportunity to sign him on loan that is exactly what he did.
Gregory managed Aston Villa and Derby and was the QPR manager for a year while Mancienne was there. He played Mancienne as a right back but feels he is more suited as a central defender:
After rejecting the offer of representing the Seychelles (his family moved to the UK three years before his birth), Mancienne captained the England Under 18s before he was called up by Pearce last year.
Michael Mancienne
Mancienne helped England U-21s qualify for the 2009 European Champs
And with a month remaining on his loan period at Wolves, manager Mick McCarthy says Mancienne has been a huge factor in helping his team to a six-point lead at the top of the Championship.
But is he good enough to make the international grade?
McCarthy thinks so, saying Mancienne was “ready” for the next step up, claiming his senior call-up is just part of a “natural progression”.
Gregory sees no reason why Mancienne will not earn many England caps, comparing his situation to a similar baptism of fire for Gareth Barry when he was introduced to the senior set-up aged 17.
“If you look at him play you see there’s a Rio Ferdinand there…He’s got a very supportive family and he’s got a fantastic future.”
With injury forcing Rio Ferdinand’s absence on Wednesday, Aston Villa’s Curtis Davies and Everton’s Joleon Lescott in the squad, and the likes of excluded Jonathan Woodgate in good form for Spurs, competition for the England centre-half spots is hot.
If Mancienne’s development continues as it has done, his club career may make a few twists and turns, but as far as his international duties are concerned, there seems to be no turning back.