Rafa: Gerrard is fit for Liverpool but not England

And as Steve McClaren prepares to name an injury-ravaged squad today — possibly including newcomers Steve Sidwell and David Bentley — he faces further concerns about Michael Owen as Premier League clubs put their own needs first.

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Broken toe: Steven Gerrard

Even though Gerrard will play with a broken toe for Liverpool against Chelsea on Sunday, Benitez said yesterday: "Steven has a hairline fracture at the tip of his big toe, it's not a metatarsal injury.

"He will need an injection but then he can play without pain against Chelsea. Steve says he can manage it but it would be a big risk for him to play next week for England and push him for that game.

"He will train but he will not be able to join up with England. I will talk to Steve McClaren and I'm sure he will understand.

"If we want to use him on Sunday, maybe we will have to rest him for two days now and after the game make sure he has more rest, maybe one week or 10 days, depending on his condition."

McClaren was also warned by Sam Allardyce that "too much pressure" must not be placed on Owen, who will return from injury to be a substitute for Newcastle against Aston Villa tomorrow.

Manager Allardyce said: "We can say Michael is fit from the injury now but we wouldn't say he's 100 per cent match fit.

"It would be unfair to put too much pressure on Michael at the moment, from my point of view and England's point of view.

"I'll speak to Steve McClaren about next week's game after the weekend. We'll have a better view of it then. I've spoken to Steve a few times.

"Michael's a bit more in the forefront after Wayne Rooney's injury. But Steve has to get ready for qualifiers. This friendly could be a good exercise for Michael Owen, Steve McClaren and Newcastle United. We will wait until after Saturday's game to see.

"I don't know Michael well enough to say when he'll be fully match-fit. I just have to look at it day by day, game by game and use the knowledge of the backroom staff, my knowledge and talking to Michael. Like every player, he's going to say he's fit before he is.

"Is he fit enough to start? I wouldn't tell you if I knew. I have to stop all players being impatient when they've been injured.

"As soon as they come back and take part in a training session or play in a reserve game, they say they're ready. They're footballers, I'm a manager.

"The sports scientists and medical people are the experts. We take that judgment rather than the player's view. The player has a big say in how he feels and what his problems are. "But we have to override their impatience sometimes for their own benefit, for my benefit, for everyone's benefit."