Beckham major worry for Eriksson

SOCCER: David Beckham, described by Sven-Goran Eriksson as "irreplaceable", arrived here last night with a growing sense of foreboding that his only role at the Gradski Stadium tomorrow will be that of spectator.

His niggling groin injury forced him out of England's final training session before they left Manchester yesterday, putting Kieron Dyer on standby to win his 18th cap in the Euro 2004 qualifier against Macedonia.

So influential is Beckham that Eriksson will give him as long as possible to prove his fitness, but the England coach will have been troubled that his medical staff did not consider Beckham up to anything more than a light workout in the gymnasium.

Eriksson, faced with the prospect of having only seven of his first-choice XI available, was compelled to consider contingency plans and, when the first-team bibs were handed out for a 10-a-side match, Dyer was chosen ahead of Joe Cole to fill the void on the right of midfield.

Dyer, by his own admission, has had a wretched start to the season with Newcastle and appears to be suffering a crisis of confidence at club level, but Eriksson seems to have put his faith in the player's ability to run behind defences and deliver telling balls from wide areas.

The word from the English Football Association is that Eriksson remains "quietly confident" Beckham will be able to play, but the coach also knows his captain will need a full workout today. "We have one more training session at Macedonia's stadium and David will be tested to see if he is able to take part," said an FA spokesman.

There is no understating how demoralising Beckham's absence would be, given his leadership qualities and standing among his team-mates.

With Steven Gerrard and Paul Scholes ruled out, it would also mean Eriksson would be left with only Nicky Butt available from his favoured midfield quartet. The back four will also have an unfamiliar appearance, with Rio Ferdinand's kidney complaint leaving Sol Campbell and John Terry to form a central defensive partnership more out of circumstance than choice.

However, Ferdinand hopes to be fit for Wednesday's match against Liechtenstein at Old Trafford.

Butt played his usual holding role in training and his experience will be crucial in a weakened midfield. Frank Lampard was deployed in Scholes's role just behind Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, while Owen Hargreaves auditioned on the left of midfield, with orders not to hug the touchline.

Beckham's chances of playing his usual role can probably best be described as 60-40 and England's management should be encouraged by the fact that, in own his words, he is "normally a quick healer".

Should Beckham miss out, Owen will replace him as captain and Hargreaves will take over as dead-ball specialist.