Steven Gerrard picked but Johnson misses out

Sep 8 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

STEVEN GERRARD has been passed fit for England’s crucial clash with Israel this evening – but Andrew Johnson is poised to miss out in attack.

The Everton striker will be overlooked by head coach Steve McClaren in favour of Wigan Athletic’s Emile Heskey, a surprise call-up to the squad earlier this week for the Euro 2008 qualifying double header against the Israelis and Russia.

Given the suspension to Peter Crouch and injury to Wayne Rooney, Johnson was hopeful of making only his third competitive appearance for his country after starting the qualifiers in Israel and Andorra in March.

Instead, Heskey is in line for his 44th cap and his first since the European Championship defeat to France in June 2004, and be reunited up front with former Liverpool team-mate Michael Owen for the first time at international level since the 3-1 friendly victory over Croatia in August 2003.

The news yesterday that Gerrard will be available to play without the need for a pain-killing injection will no doubt please Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez, who was firmly against such an action.

Gerrard has trained for the last two days minus any jab, and any discomfort the England vice-captain is still experiencing from his broken toe did not stop him producing an outstanding performance at England’s London Colney training HQ.

It left a relieved McClaren optimistic Gerrard will deliver more of the same when it really matters at Wembley this evening.

“If he plays tomorrow as he trained today, I will be delighted,” said McClaren yesterday.

“We will assess the situation tomorrow but he has trained without an injection this week and I don’t think he will need one for the game.”

The medical bulletin on Owen Hargreaves’ thigh strain was less encouraging.

Hargreaves has yet to be ruled out of the game but faces a fitness test prior to kick-off and, having barely trained this week, it would represent a major gamble on McClaren’s part to select the Manchester United man, especially as likely replacement Gareth Barry has impressed in training.

Whoever plays in midfield, McClaren is aware the key to victory is likely to lie in providing chances for Owen.

Injuries have restricted the sixth-highest goalscorer in England history to only one appearance in this qualifying campaign, although tellingly June’s 3-0 win in Estonia was a game in which he scored.

Owen is now back to full fitness and has scored in his last two outings for Newcastle United, giving encouragement to McClaren who has not seen his team win on home soil in more than a year.

“All the strikers have done well this week but the biggest boost we have is that Michael Owen is looking fit and sharp,” said McClaren, who also confirmed Paul Robinson will remain in goal.

“He is a very big player for us and it is not necessarily a case of who is going to play with him but who is going to supply the chances.

“We need to get the ball into areas where Michael Owen is at his best.”

Currently fourth in Group E, three points behind today’s opponents Israel, England are about to embark on a three-game home run which they must make count ahead of next month’s trip to Russia.