The pace of the modern game is such that a player with the speed and acceleration to beat a man, or five in Theo Walcott’s case, is an invaluable asset to any team. To have two such players in the same side is a luxury no manager can afford to ignore.
Thus Martin O’Neill hasn’t and the recent bout of predatory Aston Villa attacks has been the rich reward of a season in which the Ulsterman has trusted his two speedsters, Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor, to terrorise defences and plunder goals.
Both players have been nominated for the PFA’s Young Player of the Year award along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Cesc Fabregas. And to see two Englishmen competing against two of the Premiership’s best players for
the gong is a comforting sight for any fan. It should be particularly so for Fabio Capello as he seeks to build a new, all-conquering England side.
But are the two Villains ready for the international stage?
One criticism of the pair would be that against the big four, they are yet to really threaten the opposition in the same way that the likes of Ronaldo, Tevez, Fabregas and Adebayor would.
However, they have talent, frightening speed and are now contributing goals regularly – an end product that is missing in other competitors for an England place.
So will Mr Capello take the plunge and take flight with the wingers?
