Gerrard providing the inspiration in Englands
patched-up midfield
OWEN HARGREAVES has handed England a fresh injury nightmare
as Steven Gerrard declared himself fit to face Israel. England
manager Steve McClaren will now pin his hopes on Gerrard providing
the inspiration in Englands patched-up midfield as they seek to
get their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign back on
track.
Manchester United midfielder Hargreaves limped out of training with
a thigh problem and is set to be replaced in the starting line-up
by Gareth Barry if he fails to recover in the next 48 hours.
Englands medical staff accompanied Hargreaves as he underwent a
scan on the injury last night, but the influential star seems
unlikely to prove his fitness in time for the pivotal Group E
qualifier.
The scare came on a day of contrasting fortunes for McClaren, who
saw Gerrard emerge unscathed from a training session in which he
tested his broken toe. The Liverpool skipper has not played since a
man-of-the-match display against Chelsea on August 19, but gave the
beleaguered McClaren the news he was desperate for by catching the
eye in a training session at London Colney.
Gerrard may not even require a painkilling injection to play,
although it remains
to be seen whether he will also be fit to feature in next
Wednesdays game with Russia. McClaren is poised to select Aston
Villas Barry, ahead of Manchester Uniteds Michael Carrick, in a
holding role alongside vice-captain Gerrard.
The setback of Hargreaves comes with Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard
and David Beckham all sidelined and would deprive England of one of
their key performers over the Past 12 months. McClaren still has
decisions to make regarding his strikeforce, with Andy Johnson
again asked to operate alongside Michael Owen in
training.