Will Adam Johnson go to the World Cup?

Adam Johnson put in a virtuoso Man of the Match performance as Man City beat Bolton 2-0 last night. He’s young, he’s English, and he’s good. Could he sneak into Fabio’s plans…?

Johnson started off in the hole and was then moved out right, where he terrorised Paul Robinson. He’s been doing it in the Championship this season (he was Boro’s top scorer before leaving) and has now proved he can do it in the Premier League (admittedly only in one game).

He’s certainly a talented lad, with two good, quick feet, vision, and finishing ability. Says Roberto Mancini:

He is a young player who wants to do well. He can play on both the left and the right and he can also play behind the main striker.

What will obviously stand out to England fans is his ability to play on the left, a perennial problem for the international side. Steven Gerrard is currently the man in possession with Joe Cole behind him – but Johnson is arguably already next in line, leapfrogging the likes of Stewart Downing and Ashley Young.

He is exciting and unpredictable as well, qualities severely lacking in the England side (Rooney and arguably Cole aside). Capello has spoken of his admiration for Johnson, but was initially against his move to Man City:

‘I like Johnson – but all these players have to play. At the moment Gibbs and Walcott are not playing.

‘You’ve seen what has happened to Joe Hart now he is playing at Birmingham. This year he has improved a lot because he plays.’

However, if Johnson continues to get game time at City and continues to play as well as he did last night, he’s in with a massive chance. After all, it’s not like the current England squad are making themselves undroppable or filling their manager with confidence (see here).

We’re putting our necks out here – Adam Johnson will be in Capello’s 23 for South Africa. And unlike the last young surprise inclusion Theo Walcott, he will play…