Player profile

Recalled for Fabio Capello’s first game in charge in 2008, James kept his place for 13 matches before a shoulder injury ruled him out of the World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan a year ago, but he became the fifth England goalkeeper to reach 50 caps when he made his first start for 13 months in the warm-up friendly against Japan.

James described England’s goalkeeping policy under previous coach Steve McClaren as “ludicrous”, saying challengers for the No.1 shirt were rarely given a starting place in friendlies.

In February, James waived his right to a contract extension worth £3m to help Portsmouth in their financial plight and safeguard his own chances of being selected for the World Cup squad. Under the original terms of his contract, he would have triggered a new 12-month deal worth £60,000 a week once he had made 25 appearances during the 2009/10 campaign.

Portsmouth are his sixth club, following Watford (1988-92), Liverpool (1992-99), Aston Villa (1999-2001), West Ham (2001-04) and Manchester City (2004-06). At Liverpool he was labelled “Calamity James” for several high-profile errors he blamed on a reflex problem caused by playing too many computer games.

James is seemingly on a one-man mission to change the image of footballers - he has a passion for art, a car that runs on rape seed oil, a broadsheet national newspaper column, and a foundation that helps to develop better farming practices in Malawi.