Coach Fabio Capello sprang a major surprise by including Bullard in his 23-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers with Andorra and Croatia.

Although there is a lot of respect for his workrate, and the determination with which Bullard battled back from the cruciate knee ligament injury that threatened to wreck his career, rarely has he been spoken of as international material.

But Fry, who spent three years working with Bullard after giving him his big break at Peterborough, feels the 29-year-old is exactly the man needed to get the Three Lions roaring again after missing out on Euro 2008.

"Jimmy has so much energy," said Fry.

"His enthusiasm rubs off on the other lads around him.

"He loves a joke. It's a joke a minute with him and he will keep all his team-mates amused that's for sure.

"I am not surprised he has been picked at all. He can definitely get England going again."

It has been mentioned often enough that England's players are almost too frightened to take their club form onto the international stage.

Fry is not certain about that, although he does feel Bullard's chirpy nature can have a positive impact.

Not that life has always been kind for the Londoner.

Just weeks after he moved south to Fulham from Wigan, he suffered the cruciate injury that kept him out for 15 months and led to serious fears his career had come to an end.

"He has performed miracles to come back from it," said Fry.

"At one point I spoke to his dad who said Jimmy was having a really hard time.

"It was ironic really because he didn't miss a game at Wigan.

"But he has such a love for football and such great spirit that his determination got him through."

A keen golfer, tennis player and angler, Bullard rarely sits still long enough to get bored.

But his all-action lifestyle does not mean he neglects his football duties.

Indeed, Fry feels he is now one of the most accomplished midfielders in the Premier League, having worked tirelessly to improve.

"In training he was always the first one in and the last to go," said Fry.

"He is excellent at dead ball situations; he can bring any amount of goals from there.

"He also covers so much ground and lifts his team-mates and the crowd.

"I am really delighted for him. He is such a good lad and I wish him all the best."