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Capello will pick Jones & Cleverley against Spain

ESPN staff
September 11, 2011
Tom Cleverley was part of the England squad for the qualifiers with Bulgaria and Spain © PA Photos
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Fabio Capello says he is ready to give Phil Jones and Tom Cleverley their first taste of senior international football when England meet world champions Spain in November.

The young pair have featured heavily for Manchester United so far this season as the Red Devils have swept all before them to move to the top of the embryonic Premier League table.

Cleverley, 22, and Jones, 19, have slotted comfortably into United's first-team and Capello is keen to see if they prove equally adept at adapting to international football.

The Italian selected the duo in the squad for last week's recent Euro 2012 qualifier with Wales, though neither player even featured on the bench for the 1-0 win. But Capello says he is ready to hand them their international debuts against Spain.

"They will play in the next friendly games,'' Capello said. "They will play. Possibly in a really short time. I remember (Jack) Wilshere. When he started the season he was not OK. In November he was.

"Good players don't have an age. The quality of these players is more important. If we qualify, it will be an important chance for these players to play.''

It remains to be seen whether Cleverley will be fit for the Spain clash, having picked up an injury against Bolton.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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