Owen’s injury puts Defoe in the frame for Sweden clash
LONDON: Spurs striker Jermain Defoe looks set to be handed a late chance to make his case for a place in England’s Euro 2004 squad following the injury which has left Michael Owen doubtful for next week’s friendly in Sweden.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will almost certainly have to do without first choice left-back Ashley Cole (knee) and Owen (hamstring) for the match in Gothenburg.
Captain David Beckham, who plays for Spanish giants Real Madrid, is also doubtful with a knock, while Sol Campbell has been carrying a troubling groin injury for some time.
Eriksson, who was scheduled to announce his squad yesterday evening, admitted he was expecting the worse.
“I’m counting on a lot of 'no thanks’ from players before or after I have presented the squad.
“I have full understanding for the clubs, the trainers and the players who don’t want to risk injuries when they have the chance to win big titles in England and Europe.”
That reality has forced Eriksson to turn his attentions to the likes of Defoe, who has impressed since his £7mil move to London club Tottenham Hotspurs during the January transfer window, scoring four goals in six appearances for his new club.
While Wayne Rooney, Emile Heskey, Darius Vassell and Alan Smith are also in contention to start against Sweden, Defoe could make his senior debut at some stage in Gothenburg on Wednesday.
The England coach has also been keeping tabs on Chelsea’s Scott Parker and Celtic’s Alan Thompson, one of the few naturally left-sided players at his disposal.
Eriksson also looks set to give Jonathan Woodgate his first international start since October 2002, with the Newcastle defender understood to be fit despite recent injury problems.
Sol Campbell and John Terry are currently England’s first choice centreback pairing but Eriksson is well aware of the niggling groin problem which could yet rule Campbell out of his plans for the Euro 2004 Finals in Portugal.
Ledley King will be hoping to keep his place after scoring in his full debut against Portugal last month, while Matthew Upson and Gareth Southgate are also contenders.
Despite the adoption of new rules limiting substitutions in international friendlies to six per team from the start of next season, Eriksson has signalled that next week’s match will be a chop-and-change affair.
“Friendlies are the only chance we have to try new players and if we take the players’ difficult schedules into consideration, it’s important not to push them to their limits,” he said.
“I definitely won’t be changing all 11 players at half-time, although it’s better to see them for 45 minutes than not at all.” – AFP
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