Platt: Don't leave Barry holding his own

I do, however, have concerns about how Barry will cope tonight at Wembley in the holding midfield role against players with far more ambitious intent and ability than Israel.

Barry has played all over the field during his club career at Aston Villa, most recently in central midfield, but the 26-year-old has never played the holding role he has to play tonight, and that is my concern.

This has been the problem with Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard playing together. Neither is a holding player.

That is what makes Owen Hargreaves so valuable. He has the experience of the position which comes naturally after years in the Bundesliga.

Barry does not have that experience and after one game I worry that we are in danger of falling into the trap of thinking the Gerrard/ Barry partnership is one made in heaven.

It worked well on Saturday at the heart of what was a good team performance, but the responsibility on Barry to protect the back four tonight will be greater as Russia will counterattack more quickly and in greater numbers than Israel did.

So how do we make sure that Barry's lack of experience in the role is not crucial?

Well before the Israel gameI talkedabouthow important it was that both English full backs attacked with abandon in a bid to stretch our opponents across the field.

Tonight Micah Richards andAshleyCole willhave to be a great deal more disciplined as Barry will need their help.

If, for example, Richards breaks down the right to help the England attack, Cole must immediately tuck in from his post on the left and prepare to help Barry if we lose the ball.

England's centre backs Rio Ferdinand and John Terry will be okay to deal with what I expect to be just one central striker so our full backs can concentrate on lending a hand to Barry.

At the other end of the field I hope I will see another brilliant and unselfish performance from Michael Owen.

Owen has always been happier playing on the shoulders of defenders while a player like Wayne Rooney does his work a little deeper.

At the moment Owen has to fulfil the Rooney role while he plays with a more traditional target man. He was brilliant at this on Saturday and I expect him to be so again tonight.