Football: Teddy at top of the tree

TEDDY SHERINGHAM of Tottenham looks set to join Alan Shearer in attack as Terry Venables changes the 'Christmas tree' formation of his first three games as coach to the more traditional English oak for the match against the United States at Wembley on Wednesday.

With Peter Beardsley injured, Venables plans to modify the 4-3-2-1 system - two withdrawn attacking players supporting a central striker - and play more a 4-4-2. Sheringham, with his willingness to work defensively, will probably come in ahead of Ian Wright and Les Ferdinand, a hamstring tweak likely to have healed.

Sheringham, who missed most of last season with a knee ligament injury, is playing in a Tottenham attack that the former Spurs chief executive admires for the rotating roles of its five players. He should thus move comfortably to a deeper role on Wednesday if needed.

'Last year Teddy would have had a chance and was injured,' Venables said at England's Berkshire headquarters yesterday. 'As a finisher he is one of the best I have seen . . . He links the play well and that's the sort of player you want.'

Venables could also give a first cap, as Paul Ince's replacement in the midfield holding role, to his late call-up Barry Venison, who is filling that position for Newcastle. His style mirrors what Venables wants for England: 'He is a talker, a captain, an authoritative player. He is a good, simple passer who gives the ball early to people so that they can do more with it.'

Venables added that he felt the time was right for the experimentation he postponed after his intitial formation had beaten Denmark and Greece. 'I know what it is able to do and what the fors and againsts are, but I have also got to realise that I can't be adamant about it.

'The way it is going we have strengths in other areas. We have got so many front men,' he says, aware that systems are for players, not players for systems. 'I will have to look at another way of playing now to see if I am as happy with that.'

The World Cup, with its clampdown on the tackle from behind, had revealed greater freedom for strikers and less need to have them coming from deeper. 'Now defenders can't bash through people willy-nilly from behind, we might get more from having strikers up there.' It is likely to mean another frustration for Matthew Le Tissier, three times a substitute under Venables and virtually an understudy for Beardsley. John Barnes appears certain to win his 74th cap on the left of midfield.

With Steve Bould injured, the only change in defence is likely to be the return of Gary Pallister. Though he sat out the first two days of England's five- day preparations with a groin injury, he is likely to be fit. Arsenal's poor start to the season could cost David Seaman his place in goal.

The United States are still without their best midfield player, Tab Ramos, whose cheekbone was fractured in the World Cup, and have dropped Coventry City's Roy Wegerle. They do come, however, with the best of their European players in Thomas Dooley, Eric Wynalda and Alexi Lalas. Their World Cup campaign revealed them to be well organised and stubborn defensively, but without the quality of attack to match. It should mean a victory for England, if not by much.

Possible England team: Flowers; Jones, Adams, Pallister, Le Saux; Anderton, Venison, Platt, Barnes; Shearer, Sheringham.