City stars urge Bridge to U-turn over England snub

Manchester City’s England players are determined to persuade team-mate Wayne Bridge to change his mind over his decision to go into international exile.

Bridge ruled himself out of contention for England duty last month following reports of an affair between international colleague John Terry and his ex-girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel, who is also the mother of the City defender’s child.

Bridge said the alleged affair had made his position in the England set-up “untenable and potentially divisive”. However his City team-mates have not given up hope of persuading him to change his mind in time for the World Cup in South Africa.

City and England midfielder Gareth Barry told the Sunday Times: “I’d like to see him go. Time can change people’s opinions sometimes and hopefully that will happen with Wayne.

“He doesn’t want to sit down in a few years’ time and regret anything. World Cups don’t come around too often and it might be a last time to do something, but I’ll respect his decision. He’s been to a World Cup before.

“We’ll have another go. I think there have already been conversations between the lads and Wayne and there could be a time when we see what he’s thinking and may put our opinion across.”

Barry admitted it even felt strange for him to return to the England set-up after the scandal, which led to Terry being stripped of the national team captaincy.

“It was a bit awkward for me but you have to put that aside because you’re a professional,” he added.

“You’re going there to do a job and work with each other and you can’t think about it too much. As professionals we got on with the job.”