Numbers game for luckless McClaren

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Midfielders, in particular, will be in short supply if the FA's medical staff agree with club assessments on Owen Hargreaves and Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard was already doubtful with a fractured toe that needed an injection before he could play for Liverpool against Chelsea yesterday but Hargreaves is now an additional concern.

He made his Manchester United debut at Manchester City yesterday and, much to the surprise of England head coach McClaren, played the whole game. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisted only on Friday that he had not recovered from a knee problem.

Ferguson said after his side's 1-0 defeat: "Owen Hargreaves is very painful in his knees. It was his first game and I don't think he'll be available for Wednesday."

Gerrard will be assessed today, although he all but ruled himself out of McClaren's plans after playing in Liverpool's 1-1 draw against Chelsea.

He said: "I need to rest to be ready for the qualifiers next month."

If both players miss out, the coach will probably have to start in central midfield with Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick, although David Beckham looks a decent bet to retain his place on the right.

Beckham, who limped into Heathrow last night, was booed by a club record crowd of over 66,000 at the Giants Stadium in New York on Saturday in a game, played on an artificial pitch, which Los Angeles Galaxy lost 5-4 to New York Red Bulls.

After providing three assists, he insisted he clearly wasn't concerned by the jeers, saying: "I've had worse. It was good fun. But I haven't played in a game like this since I was nine or 10."