Wigan boss Martinez: Kirkland should go to World Cup

Wigan Athletic boss Roberto Martinez says goalkeeper Chris Kirkland should go with England to the World Cup.

Kirkland, who has made one appearance for England, in a friendly match against Greece in 2006, returned to the Wigan side on Saturday after a layoff for a collarbone injury, an example of the problems that have blighted his career.

Martínez believes that his reputation for being injury-prone is wrongly undermining his chances of playing for England again.

“I keep looking at the Premier League goalkeepers and I don’t see anyone better,” he said.

“If Chris can play the next 15 games, he should be in the England squad because his performances show you that he is assured, he has great confidence and he always makes the right decisions. I think the only battle he has got is to lose the label that everyone has given him of being injury-prone.

“After working with him I can guarantee that he is a reliable character and I’m 100 per cent sure that he’ll be in the England squad.”