Carroll needs to get fit, says Capello

England manager Fabio Capello has expressed concern over the fitness and form shown by Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.

The 22-year-old started Liverpool’s first two games in the Premier League, but had to settle for a place on the bench in their last two matches as he has found it difficult to recapture the kind of form that prompted a 35-million-pound switch to Anfield.

The Three Lions boss had earlier said that Carroll needed ‘to drink less’, and hoped that if the striker got a run of games at club level it would get him out of his sluggish start and into sparkling form.

The former Juventus and Real Madrid boss also suggested that it was a similar case with Frank Lampard, with both players on the bench for England’s 3-0 win over Bulgaria on Friday.

Capello told The Guardian: “He (Carroll) is probably not at the top (of his game). I am choosing players in the best moment of form, but Andy didn’t play the last games with Liverpool.”

“Also, he is big. He needs to play games, games, games at the start of the season (to get into condition). When these players, like Lampard, like Andy, are fit and at the top of their form, they will be important.”

“Andy Carroll needs to find good form. In Bulgaria, I decided the first XI from the players who I felt were in the best form.”

Another striker who will probably not feature against Wales on Tuesday is Jermain Defoe, who has complained about the difficulty he has had settling into the team because of a lack of game time he has received.

“Defoe is not at the top either,” Capello said. “I spoke with him. He only played one 90 minutes. He needs to play.”

“Now they have games, Champions League, national team, Carling Cup, the other games. I hope they will be fit in a really short time.”