10 October 2004
Shaun Wright-Phillips press conference

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Shaun Wright-Phillips says he is keeping his fingers crossed that he could replace David Beckham in Azerbaijan on Wednesday.

With Beckham both injured and suspended, Head Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson needs to bring someone new into midfield - and Manchester City star Wright-Phillips is one of the contenders.

The likes of Owen Hargreaves, Phil Neville and Jermaine Jenas are also options, but Wright-Phillips says if he were chosen it would be a dream come true.

He said: "It's a possibility, but I haven't really had any thoughts about it and I am just going to keep training hard. The gaffer picks the team he thinks is right on the day.

"It would be like a dream for me really if it did happen. It's something I have always wanted to do and I've got my fingers crossed. I would like to think I can do it."

Whether Wright-Phillips gets a chance is completely down to Eriksson, and no doubt he will check out all the options in training over the next two days.

But the youngster is certain that whoever plays, England will be 100 per cent focused and determined to take three points in Baku.

He said: "The lads know what it would mean to get three points. It would put us in an even better position in our group, so we're going there for a win and nothing less.

"We're just thinking about getting three points and coming back still on top of the group. Everybody's confidence is sky high. We know we're in a great position and we want to stay there. The feeling in the camp is we can do it.

"We know how to play together as a team and if we do what we're supposed to do and play like the manager wants us to, then I think we can beat Azerbaijan comfortably.

"But nobody knows what the team is going to be. Everybody is just training hard and hoping to be fit."