Steve McClaren looks set to drop 'indispensable' Owen Hargreaves for tonight's Euro 2008 qualifier with Andorra as he desperately tries to prove his assertion that Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard are compatible in central midfield.
With Middlesbrough winger Stuart Downing and Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon set to start on the flanks Hargreaves, the man McClaren described as 'the glue that holds the side together' only six weeks ago, will be the fall guy.
The Bayern Munich enforcer was voted the England fans' player of the year in the aftermath of the 2006 World Cup and McClaren identified Hargreaves' absence as one of the reasons his team dropped five points against Macedonia and Croatia back in October.
It now appears that a morale boosting performance from his misfiring midfield duo against one of international football's minnows is of utmost importance.
Lampard is nursing a fractured wrist but seems willing to play through the pain rather than lose his place during a period when there are deafening calls for the Chelsea midfielder to be axed from England's starting eleven.
Despite Wayne Rooney's alleged dressing room bust up with McClaren after the disappointing 0-0 draw with Israel in Tel Aviv on Saturday the Manchester United striker will again start alongside Andrew Johnson as he seeks his first competitive goal for England since Euro 2004.
In defence Ashley Cole is back from suspension at left back, displacing Jamie Carragher, with Micah Richards earning his fourth cap on the right in place of Phil Neville. Centre-backs Rio Ferdinand and John Terry retain their places.
