Capello: in the dark

Fabio Capello was left fuming on Thursday night after Rafa Benitez and Sir Alex Ferguson took steps which could seriously undermine England's chances of qualifying for the next World Cup.

Already angry that he had not been told by Liverpool that Steven Gerrard was about to undergo a groin operation, the England manager then heard Ferguson reveal that Owen Hargreaves would take part in tonight's European Super Cup Final for Manchester United - but would not be fit for England's crucial tie in Croatia next month.

'I think it will be too early for him,' said Ferguson. 'Anybody could play against Andorra. But Croatia is different. That is a very difficult match and you need players who are 100 per cent. He is not ready for that.'

Earlier this month, Capello said how happy he was with the support he has received from leading Barclays Premier League managers. But after the events of the last 36 hours he may wish to re-assess the situation.

While both Capello and the FA accept Gerrard needs an operation on his troublesome groin, and recognise that Liverpool are entitled to use the international break to send their skipper for surgery, communication was far from satisfactory.

Capello spent Wednesday afternoon telling the press his plans for Gerrard against Andorra and Croatia and answered some of the accusations levelled at him about his deployment of England's finest midfielder, most notably from Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp.

But it was only after Liverpool secured their place in Thursday's Champions League draw with a 1-0 win over Standard Liege on Wednesday night that Benitez revealed his intention to withdraw Gerrard from the two internationals.

Capello learned of this in a call from Gary Lewin, the England team physiotherapist, and what is said to have 'surprised' both the Italian and his staff is the fact that the Liverpool doctor, Mark Waller, is also the England Under 21 doctor. In Capello's opinion, communication between Liverpool and the FA should have been better.

Hargreaves could offer a solution in the absence of Gerrard but on Thursday night Ferguson all but withdrew him from international duty, even though he plans to select the former Bayern Munich midfielder against Zenit St Petersburg on Friday.

Capello and his assistant Franco Baldini are making a special trip to Monaco to watch Hargreaves in action with the hope of including him in the squad that will be announced on Sunday night.

He missed last week's friendly against the Czech Republic because of a knee tendinitis problem that has also forced him to miss the start of United's season.

But Ferguson, who memorably withdrew Paul Scholes from an England squad on a Saturday then selected him for a game that Sven Goran Eriksson attended the following day, has all but ruled out his player for the potentially decisive Croatia game.

If Hargreaves does play on Friday evening, Capello may be forced to exercise his right to call up the player and then have him examined by the England medical staff.