dylanJ
Mar 15th, 2006, 03:03 PM
England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has admitted that he is anxious about his injured stars as the World Cup looms ever larger.
The experienced trio of Michael Owen, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell are all still sidelined with injuries, and are not likely to have many games under their belts by the time Eriksson announces his final squad in early May.
However, the Swedish tactician has been boosted by encouraging noises about all three, and is hoping to see them all back in Premiership action as soon as possible.
"I spoke to Ashley Cole twice recently and he thinks he will be back in training in two weeks," he revealed.
"Michael Owen is supposed to be ready very soon and Sol played in a reserve game the other day and that's very good news.
"I have concerns about all of them because we are in the middle of March and the season finishes for them at the beginning of May."
Other England hopefuls struggling for fitness as the end of the season approaches are Kieron Dyer, Jonathan Woodgate, Wayne Bridge and Owen Hargreaves.
Meanwhile, Eriksson has been in Germany this week to check on the training and hotel facilities at England's remote World Cup base in the Black Forest, and has been impressed by what he has seen.
The Buhlerhohe Schlosshotel, originally built as a convalescence home for German officers in World War I, has played host to distinguished guests such as Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton, as well as holding goalkeeper Oliver Kahn's wedding.
"I am happy with this place and you can see why. The FA are very good at selecting the best hotel and this will suit us," he enthused.
"It is remote on purpose because we will have a lot of people around us in the World Cup. England are an extremely popular team with lots of fans and we must have a private place.
"We have a gym and a spa and the hotel has one of the best medical centres in the whole of Europe. Hopefully we won't be using it that much."
The experienced trio of Michael Owen, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell are all still sidelined with injuries, and are not likely to have many games under their belts by the time Eriksson announces his final squad in early May.
However, the Swedish tactician has been boosted by encouraging noises about all three, and is hoping to see them all back in Premiership action as soon as possible.
"I spoke to Ashley Cole twice recently and he thinks he will be back in training in two weeks," he revealed.
"Michael Owen is supposed to be ready very soon and Sol played in a reserve game the other day and that's very good news.
"I have concerns about all of them because we are in the middle of March and the season finishes for them at the beginning of May."
Other England hopefuls struggling for fitness as the end of the season approaches are Kieron Dyer, Jonathan Woodgate, Wayne Bridge and Owen Hargreaves.
Meanwhile, Eriksson has been in Germany this week to check on the training and hotel facilities at England's remote World Cup base in the Black Forest, and has been impressed by what he has seen.
The Buhlerhohe Schlosshotel, originally built as a convalescence home for German officers in World War I, has played host to distinguished guests such as Nelson Mandela and Bill Clinton, as well as holding goalkeeper Oliver Kahn's wedding.
"I am happy with this place and you can see why. The FA are very good at selecting the best hotel and this will suit us," he enthused.
"It is remote on purpose because we will have a lot of people around us in the World Cup. England are an extremely popular team with lots of fans and we must have a private place.
"We have a gym and a spa and the hotel has one of the best medical centres in the whole of Europe. Hopefully we won't be using it that much."