Motherwell loan spell helped Ruddy earn Euro spot

FORMER Motherwell goalkeeper John Ruddy has been named in England’s Euro 2012 squad but he will be allowed to miss the team’s second warm-up international against Belgium so he can get married.

Ruddy is one of three goalkeepers – along with Manchester City’s Joe Hart and West Ham’s Robert Green – in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine. The 25-year-old will link up with the England squad for their preparation matches away against Norway on 26 May and Belgium on 2 June at Wembley. But the Football Association has given Ruddy special dispensation to miss the Belgium game so he can marry his partner, Laura.

“I’m absolutely delighted and so grateful to the Football Association for agreeing to let me go ahead and get married,” said Ruddy, who currently plays for Norwich City but had a successful loan spell at Fir Park between July 2009 to May 2010 while with Everton.

“It would have been a nightmare after one and a half years of planning to have to postpone the wedding so it’s a major relief that we can still go ahead.”

Ruddy was voted the Norwich players’ player of the season after an impressive Barclays Premier League campaign.

He is looking forward to linking up with England and training alongside Hart and Green. “It’s a real honour for me and hopefully it’s an indication as to how far I have developed as a player with Norwich City and how far we’ve developed as a squad at Norwich,” Ruddy said.

“I think this call-up is a testament to the performance of all the lads at the club who have been brilliant to work with and also to Paul Lambert, who gave me the opportunity to come to Norwich and continue my development as a player. Playing for my country has been a dream of mine, of course it has.

“I think as a professional you always want to progress as high as you can within the game and it’s fantastic to get the chance to work with the England staff and players.

“I’m under no illusions as to the quality of Joe Hart and Rob Green and that I will be number three keeper. But I’m really looking forward to training with them and getting down to some hard work.”