Sol Campbell - someone I like to think of as the the first mercenary of English football, has taken a swipe at the England manager, two days before a very important game, over why he wasn't picked to go to South Africa.

Campbell has a right to say what he wants and we think he should say what he wants, but we also think that sometimes, football players should think about what they are saying and when they are sating it, before saying it. Sol didn't.

"I wouldn't mind being out in South Africa with the England team. The way I have been playing for Arsenal, don't you think I should be? I do. For sure."

He added: "Regrets? You could say that. I regret the fact that the England camp didn't think of me. I would have put my heart and soul into playing for my country again.

"I played my heart out for Arsenal again and thought it was worthy of a chance with England. It never came.

"Surely, you pick people in the groove, and I was back in the groove, and I was fit. Instead, Capello picked a couple of half-fit players. It fell right for them. Not for me."

Campbell added: "I can understand if Capello was thinking 'this guy is for England's past' but then he went back for a couple of players who had retired from international football.

"That I couldn't understand if he wasn't interested in going back to me. Not only that, Capello has gone for one centre half who didn't have a very good season, and another who just missed out on relegation.

"I was really, really hurt to be totally overlooked without even having an opportunity."

Poor Sol. Really, really hurt. Poor Sol.