Kevin Keegan has revealed that Michael Owen will partner Alan Shearer against Scotland this weekend - but only if he can prove his match-fitness in the build-up to the Euro 2000 play-off.
Keegan has never wavered from his publicly-expressed conviction following the World Cup that Owen and Shearer would be his first-choice strike partnership.
However, just as before England's three previous games, a huge question mark still surrounds Owen's match-fitness - and that could open the door for in-form understudy Andy Cole, while Kevin Phillips also lurks in the wings.
The England boss, who will not publicly name his line-up until just before Saturday's kick-off, must also decide between David Seaman and Nigel Martyn in goal as well as whether to play wingbacks or a back four.
Seaman keeping his place behind a back-five appears to be the most likely scenario but the situation is much less clear over the identity of Shearer's strike partner.
Keegan said: "It's really a case of if Michael's fully fit then there has to be a place in the England side for him because he gives you something.
"If you talk about him being 100 per cent by Saturday, then in himself, yes I think he will be. He's a young lad and he's very fit.
"But if you're talking about being match-fit then that's where your slight doubt comes in. "Let's look at the rest of the training all week and judge it then," he said. But Owen insisted that he had only missed five days' training at his club and that, with his confidence boosted by his dazzling display as a substitute against Belgium, he was desperate to return to the England starting line-up. Indeed, the irony on the first day's training at the England camp was that it was Cole who missed the session for treatment to a knock on his calf.
Keegan nevertheless remains confident that he will be training again by tomorrow Cole was one of six players who did not take part in yesterday's work-out, but Shearer, Jamie Redknapp and Martin Keown are expected to train today while Tony Adams should also be fit for Saturday.
Ray Parlour and Steve McManaman must meanwhile prove their fitness by tomorrow evening, although Phil Neville and David Beckham would appear the favourites to start as wing-backs anyway if Keegan uses a back three.
Meanwhile Colin Hendry last night revealed that even if he is forced out of the Scotland equation through injury he would keep it quiet if coach Craig Brown wanted to keep England guessing.
The Rangers defender, who has agreed in principle a £1.5 million switch to Derby, is battling with a knee problem. Hearts striker Gary McSwegan was forced to sit out training at Hampden Park last night but unlike Celtic's Paul Lambert (concussion) he has not been ruled out of the squad and there are no plans for reinforcements at this stage.
