Football - Liverpool FC: JAMIE CARRAGHER retains complete faith in Fabio Capello to come through his first mini-crisis as England manager.

The Three Lions are still coming to terms with their disappointing start to the World Cup; being held to a draw by the United States thanks to Robert Green’s inexplicable blunder and losing Ledley King to a groin injury that is almost certain to rule the Tottenham captain out until the semi-finals, should England get that far.

Throw in James Milner’s dismal performance on the left wing, the introduction of Shaun Wright-Phillips and speculation that David James is less than impressed at the treatment he is receiving from the England management, the spotlight is being trained on Capello with a glare more fierce than at any stage of the Italian’s two-and-a-half-year tenure.

Yet Carragher, a keen student of the game and a likely manager in the future, has observed Capello closely in recent days.

And rather than finding evidence of uncertainty and worry, the Liverpool man feels Capello has provided a reassuring arm around the collective shoulder of his squad.

“Look at his record,” said Carragher.

“He is Fabio Capello. When you look at what he has done in his career, including up to now with England, his record is pretty unblemished. That gives you confidence.

“On Saturday he was very upbeat. He had a little chat with us. He said the performance was good and that he believes we can still do well at the tournament.

“It was a great piece of management because maybe there was a little bit of negativity and disappointment that we drew.”

Neither does Carragher believe Capello needs castigating because of the defensive dramas that have unfolded over the past 10 days.

There was little Capello could have done about the freak injury skipper Rio Ferdinand suffered on the first full day of training.

However, it did make England a hostage to King’s woeful fitness record, which rebounded on the Three Lions within five minutes of their opening game. King lasted until half-time but now Capello must choose either Matthew Upson, uncapped Michael Dawson or Carragher, persuaded to abandon international retirement, only to find himself exposed by Jozy Altidore in Rustenburg at the weekend.

“We always think England is big pressure but you have that at AC Milan and Real Madrid on a daily basis,” said Carragher.

“Fabio Capello has dealt with that and been successful.

“There was always going to come a point where he was going to be under pressure. That is part of being a manager.

“It can’t always be rosy but I’m sure he will have no problem.”

And, while Carragher laments the loss of King, he sees the alternatives as proof of Capello’s management skills.

“Losing Ledley is a blow. He is a top player and it is unfortunate because it is the same position as Rio.

“You can’t bring anyone else out now, so any injury is going to hurt the squad.

“But the manager picked five centre-backs in the squad because he knew there could be problems and his selections have been proved right.”

The return of Gareth Barry to fill the midfield holding role should provide extra cover for a defence that Carragher insists will cope with the speed of Algeria in Cape Town on Friday.

“Every player has different strengths and weaknesses,” said Carragher. I am not the quickest but I am certainly not slow.

“But the reason myself and John Terry are at this level is that we are good at reading the game.

“The best partner I had at Liverpool was Sami Hyypia and he was slower than me and John Terry.

“It is about getting yourself into the right positions.”

Carragher certainly has no need for any sessions with England psychologist Christian Lattanzio, who may instead be working on Green’s mental state as Capello ponders whether to stick with him or not.

“I am not booked in for any Eileen Drewery sessions,” joked Carragher, bringing up the name of the faith healer Glenn Hoddle put such store by. Instead, Carragher is focussed purely on improving England’s results, his faith in Capello and his belief the Three Lions are destined for a long run in the competition undimmed.

“We still have two games in the group to go and I’m confident we will have more after that,” he said.