On a wing and a prayer

Shaun Wright-Phillips is ready to take his explosive right-wing partnership with Micah Richards into the game against Russia – but he won't be taking it for granted.

The Chelsea winger was named man of the match in England’s 3-0 victory over Israel last weekend and is one of the most in-form players in the country right now.

But after years of battling to get into the Chelsea and England teams you won’t catch him counting his chickens.

So when he asked about the challenge of taking on Russia in a pre-match press conference, the former Manchester City man quickly put his questioners right.

"First things first," he said. "We've got training today. Secondly, no one knows the team. Like I said, I just want to work hard in training and again and we'll see where it goes from there.

"It's a challenge for everybody to play consistently at this level. The key factor for me is being named in the squad. From then, I've just got to put my head down and work hard."

Even so, there are fans all over the country relishing the prospect of seeing Richards and Wright-Phillips lining up in the same team again on Wednesday.

Both players were outstanding against Israel and seemed to have an almost natural understanding when it came to sharing attacking and defensive duties.

Wright-Phillips said: "I know Micah from Manchester City as well as England and watch him when he plays. The key thing was just the communication we had together.

"We have an understanding, and have been talking together in training - I just said to him 'If you go past me, I will cover for you and vice-versa.

"It just comes through the team and the way everyone has been training together. If someone is out of position, we can all just fill in to help out.

"Dropping in to defend has always been part of my game. But it is about communication. It is not about me it is about the team, and if filling in helps the team then all the better. I don't mind tackling to be honest. If it's going to help the team, I'm definitely going to put my foot in there."

There you go again; always modest, always earnest, always unselfish. But you can spot a glint in his eye when asked if the partnership with Richards excites him.

"Obviously, because Micah is a fantastic player," he says, before quickly reverting to type and adding:. "But, for me, as long as I'm in the team I don't mind who I play with. I'm just happy to play."

As you can see, when it comes to attitude Shaun Wright-Phillips is virtually faultless.

And if he can produce another performance on Wednesday like the one we saw against Israel he will end the week as one of England’s biggest, and most self-effacing, heroes.