England v Israel
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
5pm, Saturday 8 September 2007
Wembley Stadium
Live on BBC1

With England’s Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel two days away, Head Coach Steve McClaren has given an update on the fitness of Owen Hargreaves and Steven Gerrard.

He said: “Owen’s thigh felt tight after we started training yesterday, so he sat out most of the session. As a precaution he was sent for a scan.

“Thankfully the scan only revealed a small problem and we are hoping it will clear.

“The thigh problem is not related to the tendonitis Owen has been suffering with in his knee.

“We’re still hoping he will be available for Saturday, and he is definitely not ruled out.

“We’ll give Owen as much time as we can before making a decision. He’s a determined character and we know that he really wants to play. Naturally, we won’t take any unnecessary risks with him though.”

McClaren added: “We did have some positive news on Steven Gerrard yesterday, when he played a part in training without any problems.

“We will continue to assess him closely and stay in regular contact with the medical staff at Liverpool Football Club, before making any decision as to whether he will play.

“As I’ve already said, regardless of who is injured, we are looking forward to Saturday with confidence. I’ve told the players we have enough ability in the dressing room and it’s up to us to go out and the get result. We’re good enough to do so.”