Keegan has few options

Peter Beardsley has joined Kevin Keegan's coaching staff this week as England prepare for the two European Championship qualifiers they have to win to retain a chance of reaching next summer's finals in the Low Countries. The temptation to ask Beardsley, Gary Lineker's natural foil in Bobby Robson's England team, if he has brought his boots along is hard to resist.

Beardsley's presence alone is a stark reminder of how narrow are England's options in the positions from which goals are often fashioned. There is not much consolation in the news that while Jamie Redknapp's sore Achilles will not permit him to appear against Luxembourg tomorrow, it may have eased in time for Wednesday's confrontation in Poland.

Having already lost Darren Anderton through injury, and with Paul Scholes suspended for the Luxembourg match, Keegan's hopes of achieving a smooth transition from Wembley to Warsaw look a trifle wan. Picking a side to beat Luxembourg is not the problem; finding the blend and balance to win in Poland is another matter altogether.

Between them, Anderton, Scholes and David Beckham mustered some imaginative movements during the last World Cup, but even with a full-strength squad Keegan would still be short of someone with Beardsley's touch around the penalty area.

Keegan can play David Batty to hold in midfield and Tim Sherwood to go forward. Both have begun the season in excellent form, for Leeds United and Tottenham respectively.

The fastest, and arguably the cleverest, central midfield player Keegan could field against Luxembourg is Kieron Dyer. As an alternative Keegan would be more likely to bring in Ray Parlour on the right with a view to switching Beckham to a central position.

But moving Beckham into the middle would risk cutting off an important service to the strikers, and if ever Alan Shearer needed service it is now.

Shearer will lead the team and the attack in both games. Keegan will reveal his initial choice of partner for him when he announces the team today. It seems to be a question of whether Robbie Fowler starts against Luxembourg with Michael Owen coming off the bench, or the other way round.

Stuart Pearce is also expected to appear in both matches. If so it is to be hoped that he still has the legs, as well as the heart, for the job in hand.

England (possible): Martyn; G Neville, Keown, Adams, Pearce; Beckham, Sherwood, Batty, McManaman; Shearer, Fowler.