Kirkland asks for reserve outing

The possibility of Chris Kirkland playing at Anfield tonight in England's game against Uruguay would have been quite high but for an injury to his kidney.

Instead Kirkland will be playing at Wigan in an Albion second string to try and gain some match fitness after failing to win his place back from in-form Tomasz Kuszczak.

Kirkland has not played a Premier League game for Albion since he picked up the injury against Bolton in October last year. Kirkland's only appearances since his injury were in the FA Cup games against Reading.

Kuszczak has been in amazing form for the Baggies and has been automatic first choice since taking over the position from Kirkland during his injury.

Kirkland has asked to be included tonight as he looks to get some match sharpness hoping that he may get a chance in the clubs final eleven games.

Kirkland did admit in an interview with the official site that an England call-up was last on his list of priorities.

Kirkland told wba.co.uk, 'I was expecting not to be in the England squad.

'You've got to be playing to picked and I've not been playing so I have no arguements.

'I've just got to work as hard as I can to try and get back in the team.

'I hope I'm in the World Cup squad to be honest, it is not the main thing for me.

'The main thing is to get back playing and what comes after is a bonus.'

It must be gutting for Kirkland as the keeper joined Albion on loan from Liverpool at the start of the season hoping to gain enough first-team action to guarantee him a place in Sven Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad.

Due to the emergence of Kuszczak, Kirkland has been been relegated to the bench for most of this season and can most probably kiss his place in Eriksson's squad goodbye.

Kirkland has no hard feelings towards Kuszczak or the club and admits that Kuszczak deserves his chance as Baggies number one, 'The World Cup is at the back of my mind. The most important thing is West Brom staying up. That's all I am thinking about.

'The club have been great to me. They took me on. They started the season with me.

'Tomasz did great at the end of last season and to start the season was great but unfortunately I picked up a pretty serious knock and gave Tomasz a chance.

'He has done great and I've got no arguments.'

On a lighter note Kuszczak looks set to appear for Poland when they face the USA in Germany tonight so best of luck to him.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.