Post by Taxigirl on Apr 16, 2004 9:51:43 GMT
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/england/3631135.stm
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted there are only two places up for grabs in his Euro 2004 squad.
Eriksson, who will name his squad on 17 May, can take 23 players to Portugal this summer and knows who 21 will be.
Manchester United defender Wes Brown and Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe are tipped to be the two who make a late surge into the party.
"Wes is coming along," said Eriksson, before adding: "Jermain is a goalscorer and we don't have that many of them."
Brown has returned to form with United having struggled initially on his comeback from two serious knee injuries.
Defoe, who moved back into the Premiership with THFC in January having been relegated with West Ham last season, is also in form.
He made his England debut in March's friendly against Sweden, and impressed alongside fellow youngster Wayne Rooney.
Eriksson said: "If I had to pick the squad this evening or tomorrow morning, I know more or less 20 or 21."
He added: "Wes Brown is coming along. He had two bad injuries in one year but now he's coming and is playing better and better.
"When the time comes I will talk to Wes Brown and I will talk to Sir Alex (Ferguson) as well, so we'll see how his injuries are and how he is progressing.
"Jermain did very well in Sweden and it was very nice to see him practising and playing. He's a goalscorer and you must always take care of goalscorers because we don't have that many of them."
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has admitted there are only two places up for grabs in his Euro 2004 squad.
Eriksson, who will name his squad on 17 May, can take 23 players to Portugal this summer and knows who 21 will be.
Manchester United defender Wes Brown and Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe are tipped to be the two who make a late surge into the party.
"Wes is coming along," said Eriksson, before adding: "Jermain is a goalscorer and we don't have that many of them."
Brown has returned to form with United having struggled initially on his comeback from two serious knee injuries.
Defoe, who moved back into the Premiership with THFC in January having been relegated with West Ham last season, is also in form.
He made his England debut in March's friendly against Sweden, and impressed alongside fellow youngster Wayne Rooney.
Eriksson said: "If I had to pick the squad this evening or tomorrow morning, I know more or less 20 or 21."
He added: "Wes Brown is coming along. He had two bad injuries in one year but now he's coming and is playing better and better.
"When the time comes I will talk to Wes Brown and I will talk to Sir Alex (Ferguson) as well, so we'll see how his injuries are and how he is progressing.
"Jermain did very well in Sweden and it was very nice to see him practising and playing. He's a goalscorer and you must always take care of goalscorers because we don't have that many of them."