Crisis now a farce as Hargreaves joins McClaren injured list

The Manchester United midfielder limped out of yesterday's training session at London Colney with a thigh strain which required a scan.

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Wishing on a star: Steve McClaren and his team check out Steven Gerrard's injury during a light training session yesterday

Hargreaves, who has not played for his country since the 3-0 victory over Andorra in March, is now a major doubt for Saturday's crucial Group E qualifier against Israel, with Aston Villa's Gareth Barry the favourite to stand in for him.

However, there was one ray of sunshine for coach Steve McClaren as Steven Gerrard took part in training.

After light ball work in the morning, the Liverpool captain participated in most of the afternoon session and is expected to start against Israel despite his broken toe.

Gerrard has not played since Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Chelsea last month and will need a pain-killing injection to line up at Wembley.

Hargreaves, who Sportsmail understands has been struggling with the thigh strain since the weekend and could not train on Tuesday because of the problem, is the latest setback for McClaren as he attempts to inspire his men to victory against a side two places and three points ahead of them.

Already out are the injured David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and Gary Neville, while Peter Crouch is suspended for Saturday's tie, although available to face Russia on Wednesday.

McClaren was still keeping his players guessing yesterday with regard to team selection, but the feeling among the squad is that Andrew Johnson is likely to start alongside Michael Owen in attack.

Emile Heskey, who was called into the squad on Saturday evening and had initially appeared to be a certain starter alongside Owen, has faded from the picture.

In the last two sessions, McClaren has matched Johnson with the Newcastle man.

Heskey, who has not played for his country since Euro 2004, has only been brought on to play with his former strike partner in the last few minutes and looks to have a better chance of starting against the Russians on Wednesday.

On Tuesday morning, Owen made a point of telling Johnson along with Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch that he had not, as suggested, called McClaren to urge him to recall the Wigan striker — a gesture which has appeased the Everton forward.

McClaren is also keeping his keepers guessing in the build-up to his biggest match in charge of the country. He has so far not told Paul Robinson that his place in safe, despite his recent blunders against Croatia and Germany, and, although David James may be preferred, Scott Carson spent the entire session in goal yesterday.

There is a view among the England coaches that although the on-loan Aston Villa keeper lacks experience, he is the most talented of the three.

But England's midfield is the area that Israel's Yossi Benayoun is focusing upon.

Having shared the Liverpool dressing-room with Gerrard for two months, Benayoun has no doubts that England's talismanic midfielder is ready to play through the pain on Saturday.

"I think Steven Gerrard is the best midfielder in the world, so it is very important for England that he will play," was Benayoun's blunt assessment of the club versus country row.

"I hope he does, because like everyone you want to see him playing. He is the main player for England, but they have a lot of good players and it will be hard for us.

"I do not know how much pain Gerrard has but from what I know of him, he will do everything to play for England."

With or without Gerrard, Benayoun has total belief in Israel's ability to rise to the challenge in England's first competitive outing at the new Wembley.

And having held McClaren's side to a 0-0 draw in Tel Aviv in March, a result which has helped to propel Israel to the top of Group E along with Croatia, Benayoun is keen for his side to ensure another frustrating 90 minutes — even if it brings further criticism over their defensive tactics.

"I don't care whether people say we are negative or not negative," he added. "You don't expect us to come to Wembley to play an open game and end up being 3-0 down after 20 minutes.

"If we stay in the game in the first 20-25 minutes by defending solidly and keeping the score at 0-0, the supporters will lose their patience and that can be a situation that will help us."