Sport

Eriksson can take stock

In one sense, the World Cup Finals may still be more than six months hence but in another they are just six hours away

Wed Nov 07 2001 - 00:00

In one sense, the World Cup Finals may still be more than six months hence but in another they are just six hours away. Time is already running out to make an impression on England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

With four friendlies left before next summer's tournament, the importance of Saturday's game at Old Trafford against Sweden should not be under-estimated. Kevin Phillips, Darren Anderton, Trevor Sinclair, Chris Powell and Ugo Ehiogu have it all to do if they are given the chance to play for up to 45 minutes amid a plethora of substitutions.

Anderton, especially, as well as the rapidly emerging Danny Murphy, could yet force their way into that final party and now is the time for Eriksson to give them their chance. The Swede should select Phillips against Sweden and see if the striker can improve on his previously tentative international steps.

Anderton is more difficult to fit into the side if captain David Beckham remains on the right flank but he will surely appear at some stage.

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If anyone is looking for an outsider to make his mark before the finals then by all means consider Michael Carrick, Alan Smith or Wayne Bridge, but certainly do not overlook Liverpool midfielder Murphy. Murphy has developed immensely over the past year and has impressed in the Champions League this season, although West Ham's Sinclair is another potential left-sided option that the Swede could turn to as a substitute.

Either way, playing Emile Heskey out of position again on that flank will surely teach the England coach little this weekend and, if this friendly is to be of any real value, it must be as a learning device.

More experienced internationals could also take advantage of the game, with Nigel Martyn set to start again in the continued absence of David Seaman, while Gareth Southgate and Teddy Sheringham could also feature.

There is a vacancy at left back as Ashley Cole is absent, with Phil Neville, Jamie Carragher and Powell offering three options to Eriksson.

Eriksson must still retain a core element to his line-up, such as Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville, but if he does not experiment around that, then he will surely learn nothing at all about his options.