• England manager impressed by recent displays
• Spurs centre-half stakes late claim for inclusion

Michael Dawson is in contention to make England’s World Cup squad after impressing Fabio Capello with his contribution to Tottenham’s victories over Arsenal and Chelsea.

Capello was at White Hart Lane for both derbies in which the centre-half excelled last week and will continue to monitor the 26-year-old’s form over the rest of the season before announcing an initial 30-man squad on 16 May. The England manager departed the stadium on Saturday five minutes from full-time and immediately after Dawson mustered a superb block to deny Chelsea’s Didier Drogba his clearest sight of goal.

Dawson, described recently by the Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez as “the best English defender I have played against”, has impressed since becoming a regular at Spurs in late November following injuries to Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate. He has been included in England squads in the past but has yet to be capped at senior level.

That would normally leave him as an outsider to make the cut for the party that departs for South Africa on 2 June. However, Capello’s options at centre-half have been limited by injuries. The England captain, Rio Ferdinand, has started only 11 Premier League games all season and, having been consistently troubled by a back complaint, missed Saturday’s Manchester derby with a groin problem.

There are also serious concerns over whether Joleon Lescott will recover from hamstring trouble in time for the World Cup. Ryan Shawcross – uncapped but in the squad for the friendly against Egypt last month – has not played for Stoke since February, Wes Brown is recovering from a broken metatarsal and Phil Jagielka, highly regarded within the England set-up, is barely two months into his first-team return at Everton after a knee ligament injury.

Matthew Upson and John Terry, the Chelsea captain whose defensive toils and sending-off at Spurs contrasted markedly with Dawson’s display, remain experienced performers at senior level. Capello’s instinct is to include King in his plans but that may be stifled by Ferdinand’s fitness problems. King has been capped 19 times, though not at all since 2007, and has consistently impressed the national manager when he has featured for Spurs.

Yet

chronic knee complaint restricts him to one game per week at best. Capello’s staff intend to liaise with Tottenham’s medical department to ascertain how long it takes for the swelling in the joint to recede after each game but there is an acceptance within the England set-up that it would be unwise to include Ferdinand and King in the final 23-man party given the potential risk that would entail. That bolsters the chances of Jagielka or Dawson going in the squad as a fourth centre-half with the latter’s recent displays having thrust him into contention. The Tottenham defender will have another opportunity to impress against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, most likely with Capello in attendance, and admits he is benefiting from his spell out of the first team last autumn.

“I wasn’t playing early on in the season and maybe that developed me and made me become mentally stronger,” he said. “I always believed in myself, but you have got to go out on the pitch and show it. Now I am going out there and playing with no fear.”

EnglandWorld Cup 2010Tottenham HotspurDominic Fifieldguardian.co.uk

Before kick-off, it was easy to poke fun at the eternally optimistic Tottenham supporter who laid a heavy sum on his team to beat Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United at odds of 14-1. Well, well, well. One thing is sure, Carlo Ancelotti will be desperate for Spurs to put in such a sparkling performance next weekend at Old Trafford.

Harry Redknapp’s team are suddenly surfing atop a wave of adrenaline, and two outstanding results have led them to bounce back into a Champions League position. Chelsea departed White Hart Lane with their momentum battered and their egos bruised. Their lead at the Premiership summit has been trimmed to a single point, and a goal difference only two better than the scrapping, lurking, defending champions.

It was a dreadful evening for Chelsea, who lost their captain to a red card, their tempers to a situation they couldn’t handle, and their comfortable cushion in the title race.

But what an extraordinary week for Spurs. Floored by Portsmouth in the FA Cup over two hours on the Wembley quagmire, they responded to scalp two London rivals who like to consider themselves superior. Top marks for character as well as ability.

The lunchtime result at Manchester made an impression on both teams –Tottenham were encouraged by City’s setback and Chelsea tensed by United’s demonstration of championship mettle.

Harry Redknapp’s team set about their task with relish, evidently bouyed by their long-awaited win over Arsenal in midweek. Luka Modric used the ball craftily, Gareth Bale galloped forward with his engine on overdrive. Roman Pavluchenko’s drifting movement and willingness to shoot stretched the Chelsea defence.

Tottenham upped the pressure with a rush of big appeals just before the quarter-hour. All were debatable to those without a white shirt on their chests. First, John Terry tangled with Jermain Defoe on the edge of the box, next Bale tumbled fractionally ahead of Mikel John Obi’s challenge, then Pavluychenko’s acrobatic flick was brushed away by a vague combination of Terry’s nodded head and upper arm.

It was third time lucky. To Terry’s astonishment the referee, Phil Dowd, pointed to the spot. Defoe, who choked with a couple of penalties earlier in the season, was eager to take responsibilty and he nervelessly cracked his shot past Petr Cech.

Defoe cantered off to celebrate. Terry argued with Dowd. Mind you, perhaps there was some karmic force at work which evened out some of the fortune that smiled on Chelsea regarding penalty appeals for Bolton last week.

There were plenty of opportunities to double the home advantage before half time. Pavlyuckenko took aim with a dipping shot which Cech palmed away. David Bentley’s close-range jab was deflected by Terry. Younes Kaboul came up for a corner and headed powerfully but straight at Cech.

But Bale delivered. Two minutes before the interval, he made mincemeat of Paulo Ferreira, jinked inside his man, and proved himself surprisingly deadly with his right foot. Cech was certainly stunned as the effervescent Welshman arrowed his shot in at the near post.

Chelsea to replicate their commanding performance at Old Trafford at the beginning of the month. Hmmm. For 45 minutes here his team were second best. Outmanouevred in midfield, outrun at the back, and snuffed out up front, they were startled.

They managed a couple of efforts from Malouda – one saved and another ruled out for offside – and Heurelho Gomes came to Tottenham’s rescue once again as he repelled Frank Lampard’s volley. But, uncharacteristically, they struggled to mount any sustained pressure. Ancelotti, who had already brought on Michael Ballack in the first half for Mikel, threw on Branislav Ivanovic and Nicolas Anelka for the restart. Ridiculously, Didier Drogba pulled up jusr before the whistle, feeling his groin, and limped to the touchline. Ancelotti wasn’t interested. Drogba had no choice but to play on.

Chelsea cracked again, as Defoe was released for a one-on-one. Cech clawed away. Frustration began to gnaw, and Lampard kicked out at Tom Huddlestone. Tempers frayed as both sets of players sprinted to the scene of a little dust-up.

Just what they needed at such a delicate moment was for Terry to start lunging into tackles with reckless imprecision. So soon after the dangerous pounce at James Milner’s knee, Fabio Capello again watched as the deposed England captain overstepped the line of riskiness. Two late tackles within three minutes left Dowd with no option but to dismiss Terry for two bookable offences.

Cech kept the scoreline respectable when he backpedalled to tip over Bentley’s lob. Then Michael Dawson dispossessed Drogba with a cool, clean tackle as the Ivorian shaped to strike with seven minutes remaining. Chelsea did cause some late nerves when Lampard poked in Ballack’s cross in stoppage time, and Pavluchenko flunked the chance to wrap it up on the counter-attack. Tottenham deservedly hung on for another huge result.

Premier LeagueTottenham HotspurChelseaAmy Lawrenceguardian.co.uk