Once again Sven has hit the headlines this week with Barcelona being touted as potential suitors, but the England coach was keen to dismiss these reports.

"I have not been approached by any club and that includes Barcelona," he told us.

"These reports are incorrect. I have never talked to Barcelona.

"Managing England is a big, big job and I am happy and proud to have it. I want to finish my job with England."

 

Clearly in the mood for frank talking, Sven also wanted to be clear as to his relationships with club managers with regard to international call-ups.

"I am not under pressure from managers, I have a good relationships with the club managers," he explained.

"I never said that I am going to quit if I didn't get the players [for the friendly against Australia]. I read it in the papers but that has never been my words."

Meanwhile, people have been quick to ask questions of Liverpool strikers Michael Owen and Emile Heskey, following the club's FA Cup exit earlier this week.

However, Sven is full of support for the duo who both scored goals for him in last summer's World Cup campaign.

 

"I am not concerned, " he said. "Heskey and Michael Owen are among the best forwards that you can find in Europe. They will always score goals. They will play very well for us on Wednesday - I'm sure about that."

Sven will name his squad for the Australia game exclusively here on TheFA.com on Saturday night and he revealed that there will be some 'new faces' to in the party. That's enough to get people guessing, but Sven is prolonging the suspense just a little longer.

"I can't give you any names just yet, we have to wait another 24 hours," he said tantalisingly.

"But what I can tell you is that there will be some new, fresh names in the squad."

 

With most of his key players now injury free - notably the in-form Manchester United trio of Ferdinand, Scholes and Beckham - Sven is looking forward to the prospect of naming a strong party for a match that he's treating with the utmost importance.

"At the moment we have very few injuries," he confirmed. "Woodgate and Bridge are out but at the moment everyone else is available."

"Of course there are games on Saturday and Sunday so we'll have to wait and see what happens there but, touch wood, we hope everyone will be able to join up on Monday.

"I am looking forward to meeting my players on Monday and to a good game on Wednesday night. As our only friendly before the European Championship Qualifiers, it is a really important game."

From Daniel Freedman

* Log on here for first news of Sven's squad on Saturday night.