England’s engine room has, over the years, been the territory of the likes of Nobby Stiles, Alan Ball, Sir Trevor Brooking, Bryan Robson, Glenn Hoddle and of course, David Beckham. Capello enters this latest qualifier however, devoid of his midfield general and seeming automatic pick, Steven Gerrard. With places up for grabs in Gerrard’s absence, the emergence of some stunning new talent , the maturation of other more established youngsters, the constant barrage of knocking on the manager’s door by established Premier League stars and the waning prowess of established players, Capello has a very real selection headache.

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