Sol Campbell played 45 minutes on the USA Tour before being halted by injury.
Thursday, 02 June 2005.
England defender Sol Campbell watched most of the action on the USA Tour from the sidelines after an ankle injury forced him off of the first match in Chicago.
Campbell picked up the knock as early as the second minute against the USA on Saturday and after seeing it out until the break, the Arsenal man was replaced by debutant Zat Knight, but he told The FA.com the injury is not serious and that he experienced an enjoyable week in the States.
"It started well, I got through the first-half but the injury was too much for me," said Campbell. "I got it in the first two minutes and so it was a little bit difficult for me but I got through it.
"I had the scan on Monday. Nothing major just a few muscles, few ligaments, so that’s good. It's just really getting all the fluid out of my ankle so I can strengthen up and get going again."
However, Campbell was pleased with how the trip went for England and was impressed with what he saw across the Atlantic.
"It was a fantastic tour. We were received very well in this country so it's nice. America is a great country to come to and we had a couple of great games.
"[In New York] they are a little bit more up there when it comes to football because there are so many different nationalities born here or have grown up here, who have got football in their blood, and there’s probably a big contingent of Colombians here too.
"When the Colombians come, or any South American team comes to play football, they’ll bring a lot of laughter, a lot of noise, a lot of spirit and a lot of colour as well, so it's good."
With Campbell missing, Zat Knight was given an opportunity to show what he can do at international level. Alongside Chelsea's Glen Johnson, they formed an unlikely pairing, but the 30-year-old had nothing but praise for the young Premiership duo.
"They were fantastic," Campbell said.
Meanwhile, Knight himself was pleased to have had a chance on the tour. Not expecting to play too many minutes as the team headed for the USA, the Fulham defender was delighted to earn his first two Senior caps.
"I felt that I would come along and just take part in training and make up the numbers, but he's thrown me in at the deep end and I felt that I've done really well.
"Coming on for the second-half in the first game, then 90 minutes [against Colombia], I really enjoyed it. Despite the difficult conditions, the pitch wasn't very good, it was very hot, but it was nice to come through 90 minutes.
"They were a very frustrating side, they make lots of runs, so it was good to get a win."
Now Knight, and the rest of his England team mates, can relax over the summer, but with Germany 2006 only a year away the 25-year-old hopes that his club form next season can see him break into the Sven's World Cup thoughts.
"If I'm doing well for Fulham, the manager's spoke to me and said he'll come and watch," said Knight. "No one's guaranteed so I'll just go out and play my club football.
"I've really enjoyed it and hopefully there will be more to come."
To watch or listen to the full interviews with Sol and Zat, click on the links above.