Hargreaves pick of the fringe crop

Sven Goran Eriksson will continue to sleep well, even after Wednesday's defeat by Italy and with the start of England's World Cup adventure just 63 days away. You cannot be sure, of course, but something about the serenity of the Swede tells you that this is not an habitual sleeping-pill popper.

You imagine his final thoughts before falling into the arms of Morpheus are to count the 11 players who will take the field for him against his homeland, Sweden, on 2 June. Because know them he does, "if everyone's fit and 100 per cent in good shape", he declared after the friendly against Italy when asked if he had decided on his ideal starting line-up.

But if there is one thing that is likely to disturb that serenity and cause the Swede to break out into a night-time sweat it is the possibility of his A-list personnel suffering serious injury in the next nine weeks. The fact that before this weekend's games there were up to seven Premiership fixtures to be fulfilled by each club, together with FA Cup and Champions' League engagements, understandably causes him considerable angst.

"That's the only big worry I have," he said. "I don't like it, but I'm not worried that we lost to Italy tonight. I'm not worried that Joe Cole maybe made a mistake [the loss of possession which contributed to Vincenzo Montella's handsomely struck equaliser]. It happens. But I worry about injuries, yes. That way I'm stupid, because I can't do anything about it."

He laughs to himself and then, as if struck by the seriousness of it all, ponders the prospect of an injury recurring to Michael Owen or Steven Gerrard. "But I still worry. At every ground I go to, I cross my fingers. Every time one of my players goes down I think, 'No, not again'."

If Wednesday's largely futile friendly 2-1 defeat told us anything other than confirming who shouldn't go to Japan and Korea this summer rather than revealing those who may still have a shout, it is how much his team depend upon half- a-dozen crucial players. When any of that contingent are absent, as Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Gerrard were at Elland Road, then suddenly England lose their potency going forward, their invention in midfield, their fortitude at the back.

The fact is, though, that as much as Eriksson desires his "first 11", as he now refers to the chosen ones, to remain relatively constant throughout the first phase of three games, with England's surgeon carrying out just a nip and tuck here and there, according to the strengths and formation of opponents, it won't happen.

"Of course, you will be very lucky if you can play the same 11 in three matches within the 2nd and 12th of June," he said. "It would be a dream for all managers. But I think that's impossible with yellow cards, red cards, injuries, and tiredness." Hence the vital task of nominating players regarded as understudies but who may have to be relied upon to carry the show.

Eriksson could name 15 of his 20 outfield players now. It is the final five who are proving problematic. Among those who participated in Wednesday's 2-1 defeat, probably only Wayne Bridge and Owen Hargreaves of the fringe performers enhanced their claims.

Hargreaves, in an assured, mature 45 minutes, particularly caught the eye by confirming himself as a player blessed with pace, energy and an eagerness to utilise them, who could comfortably deputise for England's first-choice central midfielders, Gerrard and Scholes. Certainly, with the former's record of maintaining full fitness, that could be a godsend. "He has a lot of qualities," said Eriksson of a player who glides around the field with his street urchin-like shock of hair ensuring that he stands apart from his close-shorn team-mates on looks if nothing else. "He is a very talented footballer, but he has to be to play for Bayern Munich."

The coach evidently regards as important the fact that Hargreaves, a real ferret when it comes to hunting down his quarry, but composed and economical with his distribution once in possession, has made several Champions' League appearances, including last year's final. Although his senior debut, against Holland at White Hart Lane last year, was not auspicious, he was deployed out of position on the left flank. Undoubtedly, he will have endeared himself to the England coach by his influence on the game in Bayern's goalless draw at Old Trafford in the Champions' League.

If Hargreaves appears primed for a challenging summer, you sense that Joe Cole's senior international career will come to fruition in 2004. For all that deft trickery with the ball at his feet, his education looks incomplete when confronted by the very best opposition.

It did not require much reading between Eriksson's lines to ascertain that the coach is blowing a trifle cool on Cole's immediate prospects. "He is young and full of rare qualities, but he is not ready as a football player," said Eriksson. "We'll see if he can be before the World Cup. It's possible."

The Swede was told that his counterpart, Giovanni Trapattoni, had described Montella as bringing him "great joy and great pain". It was suggested that might equally apply to Cole. Eriksson enjoyed that one. "A good thing to say tonight, yes," he said with a chuckle. "But I don't want to criticise Joe Cole because he made a mistake. He's an Under-21 player who played against Italy today. He did a lot of good things. I don't say I will pick him for the final 23. But I like him."

Eriksson scarcely required reminding what a fine footballer Robbie Fowler is, but his second-half captain twisted his arm anyway, scoring England's goal with unerring precision in front of his home spectators.

Though the coach is an avowed believer in youth, it is evident that he will select a squad with the balance weighed heavily against youth. His ultimate design is a superstructure manufactured from good, solid experience. However, if reinforcements are required in the build-up he will select them from the Under-21 pool, who compete in the European championships in May.

Determined to fill that left-side vacuum adequately, the Swede will not hesitate to take Kieron Dyer, but only if he is available to play in the final home-based friendly against Paraguay on 17 April, after which Eriksson names his final 23. "Hopefully he stays fit until then," said Eriksson of the Newcastle midfielder, who has not represented England since the last Italy friendly, Peter Taylor's one game in charge. Four games without victory – admittedly three in friendlies, and only one lost – appear to concern the pundits and public as little as Eriksson himself.

His insouciance following this defeat was in contrast to the lather that Kevin Keegan got himself into in similar situations. "The Italians today were missing Maldini, Vieri and Del Piero, but it was still a very strong Italian team," Eriksson concluded. "We missed some important players as well." He shrugged. "It's a pity, because we could have won."

Not sounding remotely dispirited, Eriksson departed for the England aeroplane. And eventually to his bed, perchance to dream of 11 fit and able individuals. And, just as pertinently, a very decent supporting cast whose auditions will continue for another six weeks.