Not knowing what might have been if he had accepted Fabio Capello’s invitation and joined the England squad in Doha.
He might have been lining up for his country this Saturday. Playing against the famous yellow jerseys of Brazil. Living most schoolboys’ dream. Who knows, a half-decent performance and the Aston Villa defender might even have forced his way into Capello’s World Cup plans.
A long shot? Maybe. But the point is we will never know. Because he turned down the opportunity, preferring to stick by an earlier decision conveyed privately to the Football Association that he no longer wished to be considered for international duty because he did not want to be a bit-part player. And so on Saturday doubtless he will watch the game; watching and wondering what might have been.
How sad. For a start football is full of bit-part players. Men who get their head down and put in a shift when and where they are required, without money or fame. There is no shame in that. Not everyone can be guaranteed a place at the top table and Young’s talent has brought him seven caps.
You might have thought he would have pounced on the chance to reignite his career. That he did not, may well be as much about his fragile state of mind following the recent death of his half-brother.
But the fact that he was even asked says even more about England and the deficiencies in Capello’s squad. Where is the back-up? Where is the quality in depth when an injury to Glen Johnson can send Capello scurrying to a man who had already declared his intention never to play for England again?
The problems do not end at right-back. There are continuing concerns in central defence where Rio Ferdinand is plagued with injury and lack of form and a constant worry surrounding the goalkeeping position, with David James hurtling towards 40 and no-one staking a persuasive claim to take over.
It is why tomorrow’s match in Doha is not all about filling the FA’s pockets, despite so many England first-teamers being unavailable. It is about Capello reaching for alternatives, exploring the quality of players such as Stephen Warnock and Tom Huddlestone should calamity befall individuals in his chosen first XI come next June.
It is also about gauging the gap in technique which, for all Capello’s progression with England, was evident when the team lost to France and Spain and drew with Holland. It will not tell us how England will fare in the World Cup, but it might give us a clue of what Capello has in reserve.
On the basis that a team is only as strong as its weakest link Young might just have had a big part, rather than a bit-part, to play in that experiment. Sadly, he will never know. It is his loss.
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