ENGLAND ARE in the best shape possible for tomorrow's Group Two test against Georgia says their coach Glenn Hoddle. Only goalkeeper Ian Walker has had to drop out from his original squad, sent back yesterday to Tottenham for further treatment on his Achilles injury.

For the England coach, the full participation of the Manchester United contingent also nailed the lie that he is at odds with Old Trafford manager Alex Ferguson about how to handle his young players. "There's been a few headlines about this situation - me and Alex Ferguson have no problems at all - contrary to what some people have tried to say," said Hoddle. "We've always conversed; I've probably spoken to Alex more than any other manager, because he's got four or five players."

Hoddle is particularly pleased that Gary Neville has confirmed that Ferguson has never tried to get him to deliberately pull out of an international. "Alex has said to me that he wouldn't do that. Players get injured - that's a fact of life. Even though Gary was injured, we had him down for the last game against Mexico, because I needed to go over a few things on the defensive side, and Alex said: `With pleasure.' That's the sort of situation we've got."