Can Milner be the man to do a wide range of jobs for Fabio? Yes he

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Oct 18, 2009 | by MICHAEL CALVIN

IF JAMES Milner was an odd job man, he would put Bob the Builder out of business.

He'd fix a leaking tap, sort out a dodgy light socket and serve boeuf en croute before carpeting the living room.

Versatility. It's worth its weight in gold, England caps and business class seats on aeroplanes to South Africa. That's why, of all those outside Fabio Capello's Super Sixteen, Milner has most reasons to be cheerful this morning.

It may seem perverse to dwell on the future when the present had so much to offer, in the form of Aston Villa's thrilling exposure of Chelsea's limitations.

But everything, for the next eight months, will be judged in the context of the World Cup.

Just as the battle for Ryder Cup places dominates golf every second year, the ebb and flow of the struggle to make Capello's 23- man squad will be inescapable.

Milner was immense. He made saving tackles, clearing headers, in his own penalty area. He matched diligence with intelligence.

He filled in at full-back, and moved to central midfield late in the second half as Martin O'Neill gave a tired team the insurance of a 4-5-1 makeover.

He pulled wide, creating chances. He pressed effectively, unnerving Ashley Cole so comprehensively his international team- mate clashed angrily with Didier Drogba. He even took a yellow card for the team in stoppage time when he halted Frank Lampard in his tracks.

Milner's only weakness is an occasional failure to pick out the killer pass or cross. That's something to work on rather than fret about.

Milner has the character traits Capello seeks. He doesn't drink, and has inherited a disciplined approach from his father, a policeman.

He seems to have been an Under-21 international since he started at secondary school, but has made a seamless transition into the full squad.

Others did not make such a compelling case. Gabby Agbonlahor's pace is frightening but he remains a novice. Ashley Young, missing the possession supplied by Gareth Barry, has gone backwards. At least he had90 minutes. Emile Heskey and Joe Cole got 10 and seven respectively.

Martin O'Neill promises to learn the lessons of last season, and rotate a squad that has a greater depth than at any time in his three years at Villa Park.

The international agenda will not go away. If Petr Cech's vulnerability was unsurprising, there was something freakish about the fallibility of John Terry, Ashley Cole and Lampard.

All three are Capello certainties. Never can they have been so collectively poor. Villa's first goal came when Lampard miscued a simple clearance header. Terry raged at the set-piece weakness that led to Villa's second.

A funny old game, as someone once said. A game that for, James Milner, has a heartening simplicity.

Can he fix it for Fabio? Yes he can.