ALAN SHEARER is certain he will win the European Championship gamble he is taking by putting himself under the surgeon's knife tomorrow, just eight weeks before the finals.

England's number one striker is desperate to solve the groin problem which has nagged him for weeks and pulled himself out of next week's friendly against Croatia to go into hospital.

But he wants to sign off with his customary flourish, pushing himself through the pain barrier against Wimbledon tonight to try to once again hit the 30 Premiership goals mark for Blackburn.

"By doing what I am now, my specialist is confident I will be fit for Euro 96," says Shearer.

England coach Terry Venables, who has drafted Liverpool's Stan Collymore in as cover and given a dramatic call up to Shearer's club mate Jason Wilcox, now has six players struggling to be fit for the finals.

No fewer than four centre backs Tony Adams, Gary Pallister, Steve Howey and Gareth Southgate are racing the clock, along with Tollenham winger Darren Anderton.

In the absence of so many regular defenders, Anfield veteran Mark Wright and Aston Villa newcomer Ugo Ehiogu now face competition from Tottenham's 21 year old Sol Campbell to book a European ticket.

Duncan Ferguson was one of 21 players named yesterday by Scotland manager Craig Brown for next Wednesday's friendly against reigning European champions Denmark in Copenhagen.

But Ferguson faces a high noon date with medical experts today which will make or break his Euro '96 dream.

And today he will await anxiously a specialist's report into the groin injury which has plagued Ferguson's jail interrupted season. If the 24 year old striker needs surgery, he can say goodbye to his chances of featuring in Scotland's three games against Holland, England and Switzerland this summer.