With or without you? Gascoigne in question

PAUL GASCOIGNE's gradual recovery from an ankle Injury, far from easing the debate about the make up of England's midfield for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Italy, will merely intensify it.

For even if Gascoigne had not been hurt playing for Rangers in a six a side tournament in Amsterdam a fortnight ago, Glenn Hoddle's wisdom in keeping him in the side would still have come up for discussion.

Over the weekend, Gascoigne was able to kick a ball for the first time since colliding with the Ajax goalkeeper. Not so long ago, such news would have been greeted by the ringing of church bells. Now, injury or no injury, his general fitness for such a crucial match is in question and the alternatives, Steve McManaman and Paul Merson, are looking more plausible by the day.

Continued evidence of Gascoigne's lack of stamina for internationals begs serious questions about how much longer he can expect to be Hoddle's regular choice. If the England coach feels that Gascoigne's ankle is properly mended, he will almost certainly have him on at the start against Italy. But should Gascoigne not make it, what then McManaman, full of running and a difficult player to pin down, even for Italian defenders, or Merson, who is in better form just now?

Merson has scored nine goals for Arsenal this season, one more than McManaman's total for Liverpool. But he won the last of his 14 caps nearly three years ago, whereas Terry Venables picked McManaman for every Euro 96 game and Hoddle played him against Poland at Wembley in October.

The pro Merson lobby would point out that their man is more likely than McManaman to score on Wednesday, or at least find the target. Merson, moreover, is equally at home going left or right, whereas McManaman is reluctant to do anything much with his left foot.

Hoddle, however, seems to be leaning towards McManaman as an alternative floater to Gascoigne. "The way he's playing for Liverpool now is his best position," the England coach insists. "He does need to improve in the last third of the pitch, and he knows that. I think his finishing can become better, but he also provides goals tremendously well for Liverpool."

Merson's ability to find the net with a sudden explosive shot, accompanied by a minimum of backlift, may give Hoddle considerable food for thought over the next 48 hours.

However, much will depend on how Hoddle intends to play it up front. It is widely assumed he will re establish the Newcastle partnership of Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand. But this might only play into Italian hands now that Cesare Maldini has reintroduced a tight marking sweeper system.