Cole and Dyer are both on the fringes of the England side, but they have impressed at club level this season to strengthened their claims for selection. "They’re both doing extremely well at the moment," said Eriksson.

"Joe Cole could do much more for the national team than he’s done in the past. He’s now more mature and more disciplined. I saw him recently and he’s doing very well.

"Dyer is also doing very well. He’s become more mature as well. Which is his best position? He can play right, left or centre in midfield or as a second striker."

Eriksson insists Cole and Dyer are important members of the squad. He said: "I’m very happy to have those two players. They’ve seldom started a game for England, but they’re both in great form at the moment."

The England coach has hinted, however, that he will not change the midfield trio of David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard for the Northern Ireland match in order to accommodate Cole or Dyer.

"It’s a little bit difficult to move one of those three and I have no intention of doing that at the moment," added Eriksson.

The England coach is hoping that England can maintain their place at the top of the Group Six table with a good display against Northern Ireland on Saturday.

He said: "We want to make a good performance. We know that we have Old Trafford sold-out and it’s fantastic."