Xabi Alonso is confident he can repay the faith of Spain coach Luis Aragones.
Alonso relishing international recall
Xabi Alonso is confident he can repay the faith of coach Luis Aragones after being named in the Spain squad to face France on Wednesday.
The Liverpool midfielder struggled with a foot injury for the first half of the season and he has since fallen behind Javier Mascherano at Anfield.
However, Aragones has opted to recall Alonso - who has not played for Spain since being sent off against Iceland in September - and the 26-year-old is keen to take his chance in preparation for the finals of Euro 2008.
"It is clear that the coach has faith in the squad that qualified for the European Championships," he told
AS.
Match rhythm
"He knows what the players can bring and has opted to maintain the same set-up and I think that makes sense.
"But I am feeling fine. I am returning little by little and I am short of match rhythm and need a few more games after three months of inactivity."
Alonso also insists he is not concerned by the prospect of competing with defensive midfielder David Albelda, who has been told he is surplus to requirements at Valencia, and that the team must come first.
"We should not be talking about successors or these things as I am not here for Albelda and he is not here for me," Alonso added.
Responsibility
"It is a question of alternating. I had more games in the World Cup and then he had a run in the team.
"What is important though is that we all know what we have to do for the country and I think we have no doubt about the responsibility that comes with the position.
"I have played there many times and protected the two central defenders and supplied the attacking midfielders. I played there in the World Cup and have done it for Liverpool."
Meanwhile, Valencia midfielder David Silva has pulled out of Aragones' squad because of bruising on his left leg.
