Howard Wilkinson does not seem to share the caretaker's passion for locking doors. For England's World Cup qualifier against Finland in the Olympic Stadium tonight he is putting his faith more in cannons and a drawbridge while trusting the opposition do not discover how shallow the moat in midfield really is.

Wilkinson, in charge for the time being following Kevin Keegan's resignation after Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Germany, can certainly not be accused of erring on the side of caution. Few could have expected he would pick three strikers or, if he did, Michael Owen would not be one of them.

Yet Teddy Sheringham, who was always likely to play once Wilkinson had called him into the squad and even more likely to resume his Manchester United partnership with Andy Cole, has also been joined by Emile Heskey, whose only other start for England was the friendly against Argentina in February.

Wilkinson explained his choice of the 22-year-old, tumble-prone Liverpool striker by saying he was among "those who would give England the best chance of producing the sort of performance that we want to see". Since all team selections are based on this principle it was not saying much.

Clearly Wilkinson sees the 34-year-old Sheringham's ability to link the play as the key to England's chances of softening the blow of Saturday's result by beating the Finns. "He's proved he's a winner," the temporary England coach said yesterday, "and his record with Manchester United shows he can deal with occasions like this and perform well."

Sheringham, who last appeared for England in a European Championship qualifier in Bulgaria 16 months ago, merely observed he had never given up hope of a recall. "If I ever give that hope up," he added, "I'll let you know."

Wilkinson was giving no clues as to what his formation will be. With these players he could have three at the back and five in midfield but the more likely system will see Phil Neville recalled on the right of a back four, his brother Gary having dropped out with a damaged toe. Robbie Fowler, too, was released by Wilkinson and flew home.

For the younger Neville this will be his first international appearance since giving away the late penalty in Charleroi in June which enabled Romania to beat England and send them home early from Euro 2000, yet Wilkinson has not considered it necessary to give the player a lift.

The probability is that Neville and Gareth Barry will be the fullbacks with Martin Keown and Gareth Southgate the two central defenders. The amount of pressure they will come under will be determined by the extent of the improvement in England's midfield compared with the first half against the Germans, when it all but melted away.

Finland are not as strong as Germany but, if Jari Litmanen is allowed the time and space granted to Dietmar Hamann at Wembley, he will cause just as much damage. With this in mind the prospect of England being guarded by Dennis Wise and Paul Scholes in central midfield is worrying. Whatever system Wilkinson decides to use, his decision to play three strikers must weaken England defensively.

Ray Parlour, who will augment Wise and Scholes, is the only specialist tackler outside the back four. Parlour has not been in an England starting line-up since the 6-0 win over Luxembourg at Wembley at the start of last season but on form he could be crucial.

So much depends on England retaining the more confident passing patterns when Keegan switched to a five-man midfield against Germany.

Wilkinson believes that, if the attitude and performance are right, England will win. "There's nothing wrong with disappointment but self-pity, whingeing, not having the self-respect or the pride to stand up and deal with disappointment . . . these are things we want to get out of the way."

England have yet to lose to Finland, winning eight out of nine meetings, and the hurt will be widely felt if they do so tonight. Provided Sheringham can reproduce the form he showed under Glenn Hoddle in awkward away qualifiers and Cole responds as he does for Manchester United, the depressing events of the past four days will begin to recede.

Finland (probable): Niemi; Saarinen, Hyypia, Uha, Tihinen; Litmanen, Nurmela, Kolkka, Valakari; Johansson, Forssell.