Speaking exclusively to TheFA.com for England TV Green revealed how he was relishing being able to showcase his talents amongst some of the top players in the world:

"At the end of last season when I got picked I wasn’t really expecting to be picked, being in the First Division as it was then," he explained.

"To be picked was just a bonus, but now in the Premier League, playing against the best, you can show what you can do.

"People are going to look at you, like the manager and Mr. Grip, and decide whether you are good enough, because you are playing up against and with the best players in the world."

With a number of English goalkeepers plying their trade at the highest level domestically, Green also said he felt the demise of English goalkeeping had been vastly overstated.

"It’s quite harsh, he said, " I think we’ve got a first class keeper in David James as no.1, and then there’s the likes of Paul Robinson and Chris Kirkland who are playing at big clubs in the Premiership.

"Then there’s other English goalkeepers as well such as Nigel Martyn and Russell Hoult and myself playing in other teams in the Premiership.

"There’s not as many as there were in the Premiership as say 10 years ago, but then there’s more overseas players in outfield positions as well

"There’s only one position in the team for the goalkeeper and it’s going to be hard to get players picked for your country if they’re not playing in the league."

Robert Green was talking to TheFA.com's Daniel Freedman. Click on the links below to watch the full interview.


31 August 2004  
Robert Green Exclusive