Carson set to start

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Carson, currently on loan at Aston Villa from Liverpool, only made his international debut in Friday's friendly against Austria in Vienna.

While the 22-year-old kept a clean sheet, he was hardly tested by a poor Austrian side and the feeling had been that Paul Robinson would return for Wednesday's Wembley encounter, when England require a point to seal their passage into next summer's finals. However, it now looks likely Carson will get the nod.

McClaren significantly failed to back Robinson in the build-up to England's final Group E game, something he has done repeatedly in the past during the Tottenham goalkeeper's error-prone international career. Veteran David James is also in the England squad - but it is Carson who seems to have won McClaren's favour.

In addition, McClaren, who faces the sack if England do not reach Austria and Switzerland, has opted against handing David Beckham a starting berth.

Instead, the indications are Shaun Wright-Phillips will remain on the right flank, where he has excelled in Beckham's absence since the former captain was ruled out in August with an ankle injury.

In a triple whammy of surprises, it seems Aston Villa's Gareth Barry will be asked to screen the England defence in a holding role within a five-man midfield. Owen Hargreaves was thought likely to be given the job after being recalled from Manchester United earlier this week.

But Barry - another impressive performer during England's largely successful September and October programme, with the exception of the 10-minute disaster in Russia - appears to have done enough for McClaren to keep faith with him.

McClaren informed his players of the starting line-up earlier on Tuesday although he insisted it was not for public consumption, saying: "I know my team and I have done since the weekend - but I am not going to reveal it and I am not giving any clues."

McClaren will invite John Terry into the dressing room to deliver a pre-match rallying call. Along with Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen, Terry will miss out despite being involved in Tuesday morning's training session.