Venables juggles his crocked centre-halves

ENGLAND'S European Championship hopefuls will arrive at Bisham Abbey next week carrying their hopes and fears but not, as yet, their passports.

Terry Venables, anxious to give his clutch of crocked centre halves as much time to prove their fitness as possible, yesterday committed himself only to picking a squad for the Wembley friendly with Hungary on May 18th, not the subsequent far eastern tour.

The 26 man party, which must be trimmed to the championship 22 by the end of the month, includes two of the recently injured, Tony Adams and Gareth Southgate, but omits two others, Gary Pallister and Steve Howey.

Encouragingly for Venables it also includes Darren Anderton, his first and most successful England discovery, and Alan Shearer.

Anderton has played barely a handful of matches for Tottenham this season but he may have regained his fitness just in time. England have missed his goals and his imagination. Significantly, his return is at the expense of Trevor Sinclair, dropped after several squad appearances, rather than Jason Wilcox, another uncapped player but one who prefers the left flank.

As for Shearer, he must have a constitution to match his eye for goal. It is little more than a fort night since he underwent a groin operation. While it would be stretching a point to say England have missed his goals he has not scored at international level for 20 months Venables will be glad of his presence.

His return means that Stan Collymore drops to the list of stand by players. In Saturday's FA Cup final Collymore may be facing another player with something to prove Pallister. Unlike Adams he played for his club at the weekend but, while fit enough to contest titles and cups, he is not, is seems, fit enough for friendlies.

His omission is ostensibly because there are doubts about whether he would last the intensive Euro `96 programme. He has been suffering from sciatica and Venables will speak to Alex Ferguson before making the final cut. However, given Venables's recent adoption of a flexible back three he may feel he will be passed over regardless of fitness. If Adams is fit he will almost certainly play against Hungary.

Venables's plans could yet be disrupted by the FA Cup final.

Even without Pallister and Collymore seven of his squad are involved and a replay, scheduled for Thursday, would rule them out of the Hungary game and, equally important, a week's preparation. Paul Gascoigne will already be missing he plays for Rangers in the Scottish Cup final that weekend.

Exactly where Venables will decide his final squad is still in doubt. He made yesterday's selection from Beijing where he has been inspecting the notorious Workers' Stadium pitch, on which David Seaman broke his ankle last May. While Venables, said there had been significant improvement it still `needed work' before he will risk his squad on it.