Ashley the Centurion

This Wednesday, against Brazil, Ashley Cole, barring any injury picked up at Newcastle on Saturday, will join a select club.

Cole will become the 7th player to pick up 100 England caps in a remarkable international career.

Roy Hodgson, speaking about Cole, has commented in the media,

"Ashley Cole deserves an enormous pat on the back."

"Reputations are forged in different ways. I judge people on how I find them. I hope any reputation is forgotten next week."

"He`s a very serious footballer and a very nice person to deal with on the footballing front. He`s a shy person. He prefers his football to do the talking. He`s quite happy for people to judge him on his football."

Fine stuff from Gentleman Roy there, unlike the two lines the Daily Mirror seems fit to insert into its article about Ashley`s selection, lines which read,

"The reaction to the left back`s achievement in becoming only the seventh player to reach the milestone is likely to be muted in comparison to the acclaim that greeted Gerrard`s 100th cap in Stockholm."

I wonder why!

Scurrilous I say!

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