He’s famously known as one of Manchester’s most miserable men – but former Smiths frontman Morrissey will be singing for England this summer, according to super-fan Leighton Baines.
Baines met his hero when he was staying in the same hotel as Roy Hodgson’s team in Miami last week.
He wasn’t even born when the Smiths’ released their first album in 1984 and the music nut admitted only he and Gary Neville recognised him.
“I don’t know if he knew who I was and I don’t know if anyone else other than Gary Neville knew who he was,” Baines said.
“I knew he had played a concert in Miami that week so I had a chat with him and he wished us good luck. I was a bit nervous about speaking to him because I didn’t know how it would be received.
“He was a nice guy though.”
Baines insisted England had learned plenty of lessons from their rain delayed 0-0 draw with Honduras – including coping with the mind games of some rivals in the group matches ahead.
The Everton defender was cautioned for a powder-puff challenge on Wilson Palacios but kept his cool as the incident threatened to boil over.
“A few of their challenges were a bit harsh but we kept our composure,” he added.
“They were making a meal of some of our challenges too but you’ve got to walk away from it. It was a good lesson for us about the discipline you need at a World Cup.
“We’re just looking forward to getting started and it all feels a bit more real now we’re in Brazil.
“We’ve had three weeks together and it’s really flown by. I think we’re in a good place and Miami really helped us adjust to the heat and the time zones.”
Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson believes Liverpool team-mate Raheem Sterling will have ‘no fear’ if he earns his World Cup call-up.
Young Player of the Year, Sterling, 19, is being tipped by some to play a big part in this World Cup campaign – and could even start in Saturday’s Group D opener in the Amazon.
And Henderson insists it could prove an inspired call.
“He has no fear, he’s got great awareness and his knowledge of the game is really good,” he said.
“He’s a fantastic player and he can be a big plus for us in this World Cup. He’ll be a top, top player, for sure.”
Henderson is one of six Liverpool players in Hodgson’s England squad and hopes his club performances alongside captain Steven Gerrard could land him a starting berth against Italy in Manaus.
“Obviously I’ve played with Steven for a number of years now and I’ve got a good relationship with him,” he added.
“We are just trying to bring that with England as best we can, but everybody is gelling well and we’re gelling well as a team.”
Main image courtesy of Jason Upshaw, with thanks.
