Rustenburg, South Africa: With his Tottenham career hampered by chronic knee problems, the chances of Ledley King playing for England at a World Cup seemed implausible.
At times in recent years, the center back's career even seemed to be hanging in the balance after a series of operations — and he still can't even play football with his five-year-old son.
"There's plenty of times when he's trying to get me out in the garden or in the park to play and it can be tough," King said. "As a kid you can't really understand it, but it's something he's heard over the last few years. It's difficult as a dad to see you can't play."
But King has been included in the World Cup squad and with Rio Ferdinand out through injury could make his first tournament appearance in six years in Saturday's opening match against the United States.
The troublesome knees prevented King from appearing in qualifying, and the Tottenham captain only returned to the team after a three-year exile in last month's friendly against Mexico, marking his 20th England appearance by scoring.
The 29-year-old King is confident his knees can survive the rigors of playing matches in quick succession at the World Cup despite usually being limited to one training session per week and spending the rest of the time on his own in the gym.
"I don't do too much training because I see the games as the most important thing and I've got to try and find a balance of what I can do and be available for a game," King said. "I always believed if I could stay fit for a long period of time then I believed I always had a chance.
"There have been some difficult moments after the last few years. I don't necessarily enjoy the work I have to do inside, but as a professional I have to do that to be able to prepare to play matches."
King's solid performances at the back helped Tottenham qualify for the Champions League for the first time next season by finishing fourth in the Premier League.
An indication of whether King starts in Rustenburg on Saturday against the Americans will be if he partners with John Terry in central defense in Monday's training match against South African Premier League side Platinum Stars.
"Playing Monday to Saturday shouldn't be a problem for me," King said.
King's chance to play at the 2004 European Championship came after Terry was injured and Ferdinand was suspended. Now he has to convince England coach Fabio Capello that he can forge a partnership with Terry despite being unable to train together much.
"He's a great communicator on the pitch and that's what you need," King said. "It is difficult. We're not going to have much time forge it regardless of me training once or twice a week. Communication is key."
It shouldn't be so hard. King and Terry first played together as youngsters in east London amateur club Senrab.
"He was a midfielder then and he used to shout at us even all back then — he was only small, a lot shorter than now," King recalled. "But he had great leadership qualities."
King's great concern is that while he is training on his own in the gym he is out of Capello's thoughts.
Capello's other central defensive options are Jamie Carragher, who has been persuaded to come out of international retirement, Matthew Upson, who missed training again Sunday with a high temperature and was restricted to gym work, or Michael Dawson, who was flown to South Africa as a replacement for Ferdinand.
"I'm used to being away from the lads on the training pitch (at Tottenham), but it's new here," King said. "You never know how the manager is dealing with that, but he's been great.
"I've had a couple of conversations with him (Capello) and he's assured me that he's got faith in me to do what I've been doing and I'll be ready if needed for the games."
And King is already hoping that after the July 11 final, he'll be able to add a World Cup trophy to the tattoos on his left arm.
"There's hands, a star, there's my son's name above that with his date of birth, there's a cross, the Virgin Mary and there's a crown at the top," King said. "The rest I'll complete after the World Cup."
And playing in the final would be worth it — even if he is causing irrevocable harm to his knees.
"The way I look at it is you are a long time retired and this is a short career," King said. "I am trying to get as much as I can out of it."
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