Manchester City winger Adam Johnson last night emerged as a shock England World Cup contender.

Fabio Capello is seeking alternatives for the wide positions after losing David Beckham and with increasing doubts over Spurs flier Aaron Lennon.

Capello seems set to stick with Theo Walcott in his squad, despite the Arsenal man's inconsistent form, believing his blistering pace is an asset he needs in his final 23.

The Italian has already also used Shaun Wright-Phillips, Ashley Young, David Bentley, Joe Cole and Stuart Downing as out and out flank players, without any of them staking an unchallengeable claim to a berth on the June 2 flight to Johannesburg.

But uncapped Johnson is now poised to be handed his chance to sneak into the squad for South Africa after catching Capello's eye since his £10million move from Middlesbrough.

The 22-year-old Johnson, who scored four goals in 19 appearances for Stuart Pearce's Under-21 side, is set to be named in next month's provisional 30-man squad, with a possible debut in the final Wembley friendly with Mexico on May 24.

And his versatility - he is equally happy on the right or the left - could now propel him into the squad as Capello's wild-card selection.

Capello said: "Adam Johnson, he's come up from the Championship at Middlesbrough, where he played in a different position.

"He's done well with Manchester City. Now it's important he gets some international experience."

That will almost certainly come next month, unless Capello changes his mind, and means Johnson will get 13 days with the extended squad to show the England boss he deserves to gatecrash the World Cup party.