| Right backs caused Graham Taylor all sorts of problems at the start of the 1990s, for extreme reasons - there were either too many to choose from or hardly any at all. Lee Dixon was his initial first choice; Gary Stevens, veteran of two World Cups, was still hanging around too. Gary Charles was given a brief chance and Paul Parker, a hero of Italia 90, was still around. The precocious Rob Jones then usurped them all, only for an injury crisis prior to the 1992 European Championships in Sweden to render the three most selectable at that stage - Dixon, Stevens and Jones - all unavailable. The fact was that all these names were considered better than David Bardsley, the strong and willing QPR defender who had played for Taylor at Watford, but needs must in a crisis and Taylor called him up after England's demise in Sweden to deputise for Dixon - the only one to have regained both fitness and favour - for a friendly in Spain, which England lost 1-0. Bardsley came on as a sub. He continued as understudy through the opening World Cup qualifiers without featuring, before Taylor gave him his first start in a baptism of fire - a crucial qualifier against Poland in Katowice (the photo above is during the game). Bardsley played steadily and responsibly as England drew 1-1, but Dixon's return - and then, crucially, that of Jones - rendered him unwanted once again. There's no shame in being sixth in the pecking order and Bardsley has two England caps and no nightmare moments to relive as proof. (Matthew Rudd) |