WHEN Fabio Capello names the 23 men he believes can win England the World Cup in South Africa on June 1, there is one name that should be included that, up until now, has been so far ignored.

Scott Parker’s sensational form for West Ham this season, in which he has almost single-handedly dragged the club out of the Premier League relegation mire, warrants a place on the plane this summer.

Of the 23 men that will be taken to the Rainbow Nation, four will, in all likelihood, be central midfielders. Three of them have already checked in their bags: Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry have all featured heavily in the Italian manager’s thinking so far and will be selected, barring any freak injuries in the season run-in.

The other place is up for grabs. Michael Carrick, of Manchester United, and Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone may appear the obvious candidates. However, neither can claim to have enjoyed anything like the season Parker has had with the Hammers.

Carrick is a bit-part player at United, being called upon every now and then when Sir Alex Ferguson wants to rest Paul Scholes or Ryan Giggs, with Darren Fletcher virtually the only guaranteed name on the teamsheet.

The midfielder’s impressive array of passing and superb vision make him a strong option for Capello, but can you really justify taking someone based on reputation alone, and not form?

And so to Huddlestone, possibly one of the most frustrating of England’s young players. Technically very gifted and one of the sweetest strikers of a football around, the 23-year-old does have some big strengths. He, unlike Carrick, has played in almost all of Spurs’ games this season and excelled at times. However, he all too often goes missing during games and is a gamble Capello cannot afford to take at international level, should Lampard or Gerrard get injured during the tournament.

The one dependable option, who combines tough-tackling, boundless energy and a willingness to get forward, is Parker.

Don’t take it from me, take it from England’s number one goalkeeper and West Ham team-mate Robert Green.

“I think for Scott, if you are going on form, then he has to be up there,” said the Hammers stopper. “The yardage that he covers is more than I think I’ve seen in football. In all honesty I’ve seen him run a lot, but to make vital interceptions at vital times, to put his body on the line for no regard for his own welfare, he is up there.

“I would personally love him to go. He’s done everything he can, he’s probably the reason we're a lot safer than we are.

“He will win player of the year by a country mile, will win goal of the season, will win players' player of the year, will win everything going, you don’t really need to say much more.

“The confidence which has come right through him goes through the team through his presence on the pitch. His attitude is infectious, he drags everyone else up. He is a leader.”

A ringing endorsement, if ever there was one.

If Capello really does not go by reputations, and his form suggests he does not, then Parker must be a shoo in for a place in the final squad.

The manager could get round the dilemma by effectively including six central midfielders. Gerrard has been regularly deployed on the left side of midfield for England in recent matches, while James Milner’s versatility will almost certainly see him included as an option on the right, rather than cover in the middle.

Either way, Parker must go. And not just to warm the bench for the four weeks. He should be starting every game. A bold statement, I know, but with a defensive-minded player required to do the dirty work and allow Lampard to get forward and join the attack, Parker is that man.

Barry will almost certainly be the player Capello plumps for in central midfield, but a promising start to the campaign has not been backed up and he has not produced the type of form that demands a place in England’s starting XI.

I, too, was skeptical about Parker’s credentials at the beginning of the season, but his remarkable consistency and almost weekly man-of-the-match awards for West Ham this season means he can no longer be ignored.

He would provide the perfect foil for Lampard, as well as having the ability to embark on box-to-box runs to turn defence into attack.

He is the man in form and he is playing at the peak of his powers. Mr Capello, you would be foolish to overlook Scott Parker.