Rolls Royce Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand still has gas in the tank, says Danny Welbeck

Fabio Capello takes England training on Tuesday

Fabio Capello takes England training on Tuesday1/4Play Slideshow

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England striker Danny Welbeck insists Manchester United team-mate Rio Ferdinand is still "a Rolls-Royce of a defender" despite him being left out of Fabio Capello's latest national team squad.

The 20-year-old, who is hoping to make his competitive internation! al debut at senior level in partnership with another United colleague, Wayne Rooney, rejected any suggestion that Ferdinand, who has struggled with a series of injury problems recently, should be written off.

"We all know what capabilities he's got - he's a Rolls-Royce of a defender," Welbeck said.

"It's wrong to write him off. We all know the ability he's got."

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Ferdinand had been expected to be included in Capello's squad for the crucial Euro 2012 qualifier away to Montenegro on Friday having recovered from a hamstring strain suffered in August. However, the Italian has decided he is lacking in match practice.

Welbeck would relish forming an all-United strike pairing with Rooney, and said: "He's been on fire, he has started the season scoring goals and creating goals. To be training with him every day is a bonus and I'm going to learn from him.

"He's a great guy to go to for advice, he's always talking to you during training and it's been really beneficial.

"Because we've been training together for a couple of years now it would work (as a partnership for England)."

England need just a point in Podgorica to ensure a place in next summer's Euro finals in Poland and Ukraine, with Montenegro needing to beat England and then follow that up with a win over Switzerland in Basle next week to finish top of Group G.

However, Welbeck felt England should approach the game in a positive manner.

"I don't think it would be right to go to Montenegro and play for a point, our aim is to win every game we go into and I don't see why we can't do that," he said.

Asked whether he felt there were cliques in the England camp - a problem former United team-mate Paul Scholes claims he experienced - Welbeck said: "I've no! t felt t hat yet, hopefully I don't. I'm good friends with (Liverpool striker) Andy (Carroll), and (Manchester City defender) Micah Richards. All the lads are great, it's a great set-up in the camp."

All 24 players included in Capello's squad took part in this morning's initial training session at Arsenal's London Colney headquarters.

Fulham striker Bobby Zamora and Bursaspor goalkeeper Scott Carson were back in the international fold after earning recalls from Capello.

But it is the likes of Manchester United duo Welbeck and Phil Jones plus Tottenham's Kyle Walker who will have most to play for in the next few days.

Welbeck, who has scored five goals in six games this season, missed last month's victories over Bulgaria and Wales with a hamstring injury.

Jones and Walker look to be in contention for the right-back berth vacated by Chris Smalling due to a groin problem.

Walker impressed during the summer's European Under-21 Championships and netted the winner for Spurs against Arsenal in Sunday's north London derby.

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