Capello awaits Terry news - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Capello awaits Terry news

Fabio Capello will wait for a fitness bulletin on John Terry before making plans for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Belarus.

The England coach recognises his team's next opponents offer a substantially increased threat to the one posed by Kazakhstan, and even they threatened to embarrass the Three Lions at times during the 5-1 Wembley win.

Capello's major decision is whether to utilise Gareth Barry in a holding midfield role, as he started with on Saturday, or stick with the trusted two wide players, as he did following the half-time introduction of Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Much will depend on Terry, who did some running and gym work on Sunday but is still to fully test the back injury that ruled him out at the weekend.

With his team due to fly to Minsk on Tuesday morning, Capello will make a final decision after training on Monday, with the odds remaining on Terry staying at home, Matthew Upson keeping his place alongside Rio Ferdinand, and Barry adopting the holding role just in front.

"I have time to decide whether to play a holding midfielder in Belarus," said Capello.

"But first we have to wait and see whether John Terry will play."

England will create a bit of history by opening a World Cup campaign with four straight wins if they are triumphant on Wednesday but with the Three Lions life is never quite so straightforward.

And even if injury doubt Alexander Hleb does not play, Capello knows his side must be wary.

"They are not conservative at all," he said, dismissing the theory with some exaggerated hand movements. "They move all over, like Arsenal, and pass the ball a lot. Belarus are a very dangerous side and this game will not be easy."

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet
You big softie: Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?

You big softie

Has Giles Coren put down his poison pen?
Pop star Paloma Faith, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video

Gay marriage

Pop star, former Labour minister and Tory blogger back gay marriage video