Wright-Phillips has all ingredients to make a successful player

After watching Manchester City?s game against Norwich last Monday I sent Ian Wright a text, saying: ?Your boy?s a proper player?. Whether or not the England captain David Beckham is fit to play in the friendly against Spain on November 17, I think the time is right to give Shaun Wright-Phillips his first start.

Sven-Goran Eriksson knows all about the qualities of Beckham and since this game is not the lead-up to an important competitive fixture, I think it is perfect opportunity to find out more about Wrighty?s step-son and see whether he has what it takes to be an international footballer.

I think he has. It takes a while to find that out, but he has already scored on his debut, against Ukraine. One can never be certain whether a player will make the step-up because international football is as much about mental strength as it is technical ability, skill or speed. But the very fact that Wright-Phillips has managed to forge a career for himself at the highest level of the game in England, while being the step-son of a famous footballing father, suggests that he has the necessary bottle.

It is not easy growing up in the shadow of a famous father, particularly a larger-than-life one like Ian Wright. Comparisons are inevitable and sons invariably suffer by them. For example, one could only sympathise with Jordi Cruyff, the former Barcelona and Manchester United player.

All right there?s the genes, but only 50 per cent of them. I?ve got four sons but that doesn?t say they are going to be good footballers. I mean, my wife Michelle is completely useless at football.

Of course, there have been some successful offspring, a few who have been as, if not even more, successful than their fathers ? Paolo Maldini, the son of Cesare, springs immediately to mind. While here in England Frank Lampard and Jamie Redknapp have each followed with great success in the footsteps of more than useful fathers ? Frank senior and the incomparable Harry, respectively.

But for the most part it?s difficult for sons. Generally speaking, footballers and their families nowadays lead comfortable lifestyles. It?s quite hard for sons to be sufficiently driven to succeed at football and, unless they are determined from the very start, they are not going to make it in what is an unbelievably competitive sport. It takes a special kind of young man to have that drive and I believe Shaun Wright-Phillips is just such a young man.

Wrighty is hugely proud of the 23-year-old, I know, but prefers not to talk about him too much. Knowing Wrighty, he must have had a big input in his career, but he?s never discussed it with me. Young Wright appears to have all the ingredients to make a successful player. He?s lively, he wants the ball, can beat people, can see a pass and he works his socks off as well. He can also play in different positions ? I?ve seen him play impressively at full-back ? which is also very useful for an international wannabe, not to mention his manager.

He is a different kind of player to Beckham and it?s great to have someone like him to fall back on when the Real Madrid player is injured or off form. It seems the old guard are finally getting some back-up, what with the emergence of players like Jermain Defoe as cover for Michael Owen.