NEWS ROUND-UP: The second phase of England's Eriksson era begins this week but, while his players were assembling at their Buckinghamshire hotel yesterday, the Swede received the sort of news that tends to put a check on an international coach's natural optimism.
Sol Campbell, the rock of the defence during the World Cup, was tucked up at home in north London with an upset stomach.
Subject to a doctor's visit today, the Arsenal man looks likely to join his fellow centre-back Rio Ferdinand among the absentees from Saturday's European Championship qualifying match against Slovakia. Ferdinand was withdrawn last week by his club, Manchester United, who sent him for an operation to cure a long-term knee injury.
Neither Slovakia nor Macedonia, whom England meet at Southampton next Wednesday, represent the most daunting opposition but Sven-Goran Eriksson now looks like sending out a line-up with a replacement partnership in the middle of the defence - the one element of the team that functioned perfectly in Japan.
If Campbell fails to recover, the coach seems most likely to opt for the club pairing of Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu, who would face an attack led by their Middlesbrough team-mate Szilard Nemeth.
There would almost certainly be a call for a late replacement - possibly John Terry of Chelsea - to join Jonathan Woodgate on the bench, although Danny Mills could be pressed into emergency service, having played in the position for Leeds United several times last season.
Eriksson refused an invitation to criticise Manchester United for arranging Ferdinand's surgery appointment to coincide with an international week. "As long as a club think that they can avoid an operation on a player, they avoid it," he said.
"But, if you come to a certain point where the only thing left is to operate, then you do. And, if you have to do it, there's no reason to wait. I'm sorry he's not here but I have no bad feelings about it. I would have done the same."
Paul Scholes was a late arrival yesterday having stayed behind for a scan on an ankle injury after scoring twice in Manchester United's 3-0 victory over Everton on Monday night. "We were told about it the day before the match," Eriksson said. "I hope he'll be fit but we'll have to wait and see. It's a problem that he's had for some time. He's been playing through it."
"Paul Scholes is demonstrating in this moment that, wherever you put him, he's great," added Eriksson.
David Beckham left the pitch at Old Trafford on Monday to have ice applied to a calf strain. "I haven't spoken to him about it yet," Eriksson said. "You're always concerned until you see them running on the pitch but we don't think there will be any problems."
Of the decision to leave out Joe Cole and Lee Bowyer, Eriksson said that current form was the sole criterion.
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger will be offered a job for life whenever he steps down as the Arsenal manager, according to the club's vice-chairman David Dein. Wenger's current contract expires in 2005, but should he not wish to continue as manager, Arsenal will offer him a place on the board, or a technichal director's role.
Guardian Service
The FAI confirmed yesterday that the FAI Cup final between Shamrock Rovers and Derry Ciy on October 27th will be played at Tolka Park.
Cork City's John O'Flynn and Barry Roche of Nottingham Forest have been called into Ireland's under-21 squad for next Tuesday's European Championship qualifier at Buckley Park.
The Irish under-19s lost yesterday's friendly against Hungary 3-2 in Budapest. Scorers for Ireland were Paul Keegan Stephen Elliott.
Brian Kerr has named his squad for the forthcoming European Under-17 Championship qualifying mini-tournament.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE - Monday, October 21st: France v Slovenia, Fermoy (2.30); Republic of Ireland v Germany, Cobh (7.30). Wednesday, October 23rd: Slovenia v Germany, Buttevant (2.30); Republic of Ireland v France, Turner's Cross (7.30). Friday, October 25th: Germany v France, Cobh (7.30); Republic of Ireland v Slovenia, Turner's Cross (7.30).
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD: Darren Quigley (St Joseph's Boys), Cathal Carroll (Leicester Celtic), Conrad Logan (Leicester City), Damien Kelly (Cherry Orchard), Gerard Nash (Ipswich Town), David Elebert (Preston North End), Kevin Mulcahy (Aston Villa), Paul McShane (Manchester Utd), Shane McFaul (Notts County), Ciaran Lyng (Wexford Celtic), Stephen O'Donnell (Arsenal), Stephen Foley-Sheridan (Aston Villa), Patrick Cregg (Arsenal), Darren O'Brien (Belvedere), Mark Sheridan (Huddersfield Town), Stephen Ireland (Manchester City), Aidan McGeady (Celtic), Gerry Gill (Manchester City), Niall Flynn (Sunderland), Andy Keogh (Leeds Utd), Leon Best (Notts County), Ryan McGavigan (Leicester City).
