Sven will name his squad for Germany in mid-May and said: "I'm very open-minded. What is important is that I pick the 23 best players."

And he revealed the stars who could yet gatecrash the World Cup party. He said: "Darren Bent is one of the leading under-21 players and Kieron Richardson too. Aaron Lennon and Nigel Reo-Coker are not too young." 

On Bent and Richardson, Eriksson said: "It's really up to them to convince me they should be in the final group."

Lennon and Reo-Coker are also in his thoughts and he insisted: "If they play even better than they are today, who knows?" Eriksson added: "I could pick the squad now, at least 20 of them, then I have to start thinking harder.

"Maybe I'm just looking for a fourth striker, perhaps one full-back and the third goalkeeper."

"You always hope some new player will come on, although with just six months to go that is not very likely."

Eriksson is keen for Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge to prove his fitness as cover for Ashley Cole, who is expected to be first-choice left-back.

The England coach said: "You look at Bridge and question how many games he will have for Chelsea, likewise Kieron Richardson at Manchester United.

"And what will happen with Woodgate? There's plenty to think about."