JAMIE CARRAGHER is a versatile defender who can play full back or centreback.
But with Rooney’s scan now brought forward to June 7th, it looks more and more like a World Cup without Wayne, so Sven is looking at other options.
Tonight, against Hungary at Old Trafford, Carragher will play in the Makelele role that Ledley King was drafted into during Portugal 2004.
He is not as skilful as Ledley, not as balanced, not as cool a passer.
IT’S AN IMPORTANT EXPERIMENT.
If it works and England draw 1-1, it’s a good night for Sven.
And England will not draw 1-1 with a Hungary team rated 76th in the world.
It should be, really, a training game for England.A game in which Sven will hope Michael Owen can play 90. If not, Theo Walcott might come on again.
Can Sven find a midfield balance?
Can Carragher play an effective role in a balanced England midfield ?
The position is not wholly alien to him. He actually made his Liverpool debut in that position in 1997 and scored a goal against Aston Villa at the Kop end. And he has played there at Under-21 level
We know Carragher can tackle but can he make accurate short passes, angled and timed nicely, as the role requires ?
We shall see.