England sweat on captain Beckham

Published on Monday 27 August 2001 01:00

DAVID Beckham will join the England squad tomorrow for the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Albania despite hobbling off pitch in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw at Villa Park yesterday.

While losing their captain would be a major blow to England, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to allay fears, saying: "He’ll be all right. We had to see if he could carry on, but he should be okay."

Meanwhile, Danny Murphy received his first call-up to the senior squad, joining six of his Liverpool team-mates named in the 25-man pool by Sven Goran Eriksson, who omitted Martin Keown and Nicky Butt due to fitness concerns.

David James and Alan Smith are also out injured after the friendly against Holland, while there are expected recalls for Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, Steve McManaman and David Seaman. There is no comeback for Teddy Sheringham and Kevin Phillips as Eriksson has selected just four out-and-out strikers. Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves has, though, kept his place in squad.

England face Germany in Munich on Saturday and then Albania the next Wednesday at St James’s Park. Eriksson said: "We are faced with two very difficult games, but I am positive and feel this is a very strong squad. The Germany game is an extremely tough test.

"It may be a hard task, but it is certainly not an impossible one. If we want to win the group, we must win in Munich. If we can’t beat Germany, a draw would give us an even stronger chance of finishing runners-up."

England squad: Seaman (Arsenal), Martyn (Leeds), Wright (Arsenal), G Neville (Man Utd), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Ferdinand (Leeds), Campbell (Arsenal), Brown (Man Utd), Southgate (Middlesbrough), Carragher (Liverpool), P Neville (Man Utd), Mills (Leeds), Beckham (Man Utd), Scholes (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Barmby (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Carrick (West Ham), McManaman (Real Madrid), Lampard (Chelsea), Murphy (Liverpool), Owen (Liverpool), Fowler (Liverpool), Heskey (Liverpool), Andy Cole (Man Utd).