Charles called up by England

Monday 16th November 2009

EBBSFLEET UNITED skipper Darius Charles is in line for his second England C cap after receiving a late call-up to the squad for Tuesday night's game against Poland.

Fleet boss Liam Daish and Charles were contacted en route to York by the FA asking if Charles could report for duty for the game at the Inter Groclin Auto S.A.Stadium in Grodzisk Wielkopolski, which is around 35 miles from Poznan. Also in the squad is Stevenage's ex-Fleet midfielder Michael Bostwick.

Charles won his first cap for England in the 1-0 defeat against Belgium last May.

“This match will be much tougher as we will pit our talent against the Polish U23 side that has entered the International Challenge Trophy and whilst they are in a different group," said England manager Paul Fairclough.

"It will be interesting to see their strengths as we might meet them again later in the competition,” he said.

"It will provide us with a rich experience; another style of play, different climate and an opportunity to build further friendships around the Europe. I have the opportunity to either experiment, as I did in Hungary, or use the game as a full dress rehearsal to see what we really have. Either way, I am excited and very proud to be invited by the Polish FA to show off our pride of Young Lions.”

The Fleet have now gone eight games without scoring a goal and remain second-from-bottom in the Blue Square Premier table with only nine points from 19 games.

But the struggling Kent club have been tipped to survive in the Blue Square Premier this season by former player Michael Gash.

The Fleet had to sell the 23-year-old striker to league rivals York City in the summer for financial reasons, and they have only won once all season.

"With a lot of games they've deserved more," Gash told BBC Radio Kent.

"I'm sure that with the players they've got and Liam Daish - who I rate as a great manager in this league - they should really get back on track."

He added: "Wherever I play my football or where ever I go I always have a soft spot for them in my heart.

"The fans at Ebbsfleet were great - obviously they bought me, moved me up a tier football-wise and unfortunately at the moment things just don't seem to be going well."

The Fleet suffered yet another defeat on Saturday - losing 1-0 to York, who were without the injured Gash.

The result leaves the Kent outfit second from bottom in the table, with just nine points from their first 19 games.

But Gash is confident they can still turn it around.

He said: "I'm a York City player now so I want York City to win every game, even if it is against my old club.

"But hopefully Ebbsfleet can start winning games and climb up that table."

Article courtesy of www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk and BBC Radio Kent - www.bbc.co.uk/kent/sport