Terry may miss out as Mac must shuffle his cards

Concerned that his captain is one booking away from missing the crucial encounter in Russia that follows four days later and worried by Terry's injury, McClaren revealed yesterday that he could be forced to leave him on the bench at Wembley.

Terry is not McClaren's only problem. Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Joe Cole and Wes Brown are also one yellow card away from a singlematch suspension and that may also force him to select a weakened side for a game England should have little difficulty in winning.

"John, Rio and Ashley are all on bookings and that will be a factor, obviously," said McClaren after naming a squad that includes West Ham striker Dean Ashton. "We have to take that into account when we are picking the team.

"The team I pick for Estonia will be one I think can win that game, but I will look at the bigger picture as well. Do we want to take a risk with players who could miss the next game?"

Asked how he thought Terry might react to being left out, McClaren said: "Let's cross that bridge when we come to it, but I wouldn't see it as a massive call.

"He's been incredible these past few days, playing so soon after fracturing his cheekbone. That is why I picked him as captain because he epitomises what the captain of England should be."

It does make perfect sense to rest Terry when his leadership and defensive strength will be needed in Moscow. That match with Russia on an artificial pitch could determine if England are going to qualify for Euro 2008.

But if anything, what McClaren does with Frank Lampard could prove a more difficult decision.

Lampard is back in the squad after missing those victories against Israel and Russia at Wembley, and he will be pushing for a place in McClaren's starting lineup if he returns for Chelsea at Bolton tomorrow. He certainly hopes to.

But McClaren acknowledges how well Steven Gerrard and Gareth Barry performed as a central midfield pairing and he may have to show strength in ignoring Lampard's claim.

Again, McClaren said yesterday it was not a call he was afraid to make. "No individual player has any right to be guaranteed a place in the England side. It's on performances and on form, on how they look and on how the situation and tactics are.

"I would have no hesitation in picking the players I think can win that game. Players will have to understand that. It's about picking the best team."

The team is sure to change for the Russia game, with McClaren expected to switch from 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 formation that could yet accommodate Lampard.

But whatever he decides, McClaren appears determined to leave Gerrard where he can exert the most influence — in the centre.

"I think Stevie has proved over the last few games that his strength is in the middle," he said.

"When a game needs someone to step forward and take it by the scruff of the neck, he can do it. He has done it week in, week out for Liverpool. He has had inspirational moments that define games and he is doing that for England now. He is very influential in the way he can turn games."

So, of course, is Michael Owen and McClaren said he was encouraged to hear that his leading striker was back in training with Newcastle so soon after having a double hernia operation and now hopes to play some part this weekend.

"If Michael Owen is fit, Michael Owen will play," said McClaren. "He has proved how important he is to us over the games he has played, especially the last two matches. He got us the goals that won us the games. That's what we have been missing for quite a while and he provides those goals.

"We don't have a relationship with Newcastle where they dictate to us or we dictate to them. It's dialogue, it's communication, it's relationships. I have a good relationship with manager Sam Allardyce and the medical teams will speak."

Injuries remain a concern, though, as does the fact that so many players are struggling for form. The one other player who, like Owen, has scored five goals this season? Everton defender Joleon Lescott.

"We have quite a few with niggles," said McClaren. "That's why I have named a big squad. These are massive games andit's important everybody is fit, everybody is on form. But we will only be able to assess that in training.

"When you're looking at the midfleld area that is a concern, but if we need to we can look at players like Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon, Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell."

McClaren has said he will remain loyal to keeper Paul Robinson, despite seeing him commit three more blunders for Tottenham, against Aston Villa on Monday. "I spoke to Paul," he said. "No goalkeeper likes to concede goals. Even when it is not their fault, they still feel a little bit responsible.

"But Paul Robinson has never let us down. In the qualifiers he has conceded just two goals — the unfortunate ones in Croatia — and he reacted well to the criticism after the Germany game. Scott Carson is playing well and really putting pressure on the other two, but I have no hesitation in putting Paul in."

ENGLAND SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Robinson (Tottenham), James (Portsmouth), Carson (A Villa). DEFENDERS: Richards (Man City), Brown (Man Utd), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), P Neville (Everton), Campbell (Portsmouth), Lescott (Everton), Shorey (Reading). MIDFIELDERS: Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Barry (A Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Lampard (Chelsea), Young (A Villa), Bentley (Blackburn). FORWARDS: Owen (Newcastle), Rooney (Man Utd), Smith (Newcastle), Ashton (West Ham), Defoe (Tottenham), Johnson (Everton), Crouch (Liverpool).