Why wasn’t AJ on the plane to South Africa?

Manchester City winger Adam Johnson has been in fine form for England in their Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland. Not only did Johnson show great skill and determination in both of these games, but the former Middlesbrough winger managed to get himself on the score sheet twice. His performances have led many to wonder why he was not in England's World Cup squad, but hindsight is a magnificent thing. It seems that his wing-partnership with James Milner has helped him quickly find as feet at international level, as he continues to look very secure and comfortable in the England set up. This could stand them in good stead when City face Blackburn at Eastlands on Saturday in what is sure to be a fiercely contested Lancashire derby.The Citizens will be looking for their second victory of the season against Rovers, while last year's fixture between the two sides at Eastlands ended in a 4-1 victory for City with Carlos Tevez scoring a hat-trick.The Blues will be hoping for a repeat performance at the weekend as they continue their quest for Champions League football.The views in this article are that of the writer and may not replicate those of the Professional Footballers' Association.