Whatever trouble England encounter during tonight's World Cup qualifier it is likely to be self-inflicted.

Albania, though, are no pushovers - all their team have played abroad and the narrowness of Saturday's 2-1 defeat in Germany will have put England on their guard.

As Sven-Goran Eriksson admitted: "This is a game we should win. We can't make mistakes if we want to get to the World Cup."

Quite so. Saturday's edgy 2-1 victory over Finland began the salvage operation necessary after the 1-0 defeat by Germany last October which prompted Kevin Keegan's resignation, and England can ill afford a repetition of the poor marking and deep defending which nearly cost them further points at the weekend.

Tonight's team is likely to show only the change forced by the predictable withdrawal of Steven Gerrard with his back problem. "It will not be a revolution," said Eriksson.

Thus Nicky Butt will almost certainly join Paul Scholes in midfield to give Manchester United five representatives in the team, as many from one club for a competitive game as England had for a World Cup qualifier with Luxembourg in 1977, when Ron Greenwood included a Liverpool quintet.

That night England won 2-0, and they beat Albania by the same score on their only previous visit here, a World Cup match early in 1989 when Bobby Robson needed respite after his team's flop in the 1988 European Championship.

For Eriksson, the ovens are barely on gas mark one, although yesterday he was asked by an Albanian journalist if his job would be in jeopardy should England lose. "We'll have to see after tomorrow," was the polite reply.

Eriksson knows that, provided the Football Association keeps its promise and nerve, even a failure to qualify for next year's World Cup would be regarded as part of the learning process for better things expected from the 2006 tournament in Germany.

Albania are unlikely to apply the physical pressure which, combined with the skills of Jari Litmanen, would have denied England their win had David Seaman not been in excellent form.

At the same time, Eriksson is aware of the Albanians' ability to strike swiftly from defensive positions. Butt's resilient qualities could be important here; as Eriksson said: "He runs for 90 minutes and tactically he is very good. He is not good to play against."

Geri Cipi, who is likely to switch from marker to libero to make up for the loss of Rudi Vata, Albania's suspended captain, caught the England coach's eye when he watched the Germany game on TV. England will also need to alert themselves to Bledar Kola's creative skills and Igli Tare's combination of height and technique up front.

Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell need to decide who is in charge. David Beckham will be expected to captain the side with the sense of leadership which did so much to regain the initiative at Anfield and retrieve a 1-0 deficit.

Andy Cole may not be expected to score, having failed to break his England duck in 12 attempts, but will surely get further chances.

England (probable 4-4-2): Seaman; G Neville, Ferdinand, Campbell, Powell; Beckham, Butt, Scholes, McManaman; Cole, Owen.