Scott Parker’s Euro 2012 fitness doubts leave England in sweat over midfield

Tottenham man now the key to Hodgson’s plans but his injury will need nursing at  tournament
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James Olley31 May 2012

England's preparations for Euro 2012 have been so ­troublesome they have ­several Achilles heels to overcome but Frank Lampard’s injury has underlined the ­importance of Scott Parker’s precarious fitness.

The Chelsea midfielder’s probable absence with a thigh injury would have been a hammer blow to Roy Hodgson had he been keen to adopt a 4-2-3-1 system with Steven Gerrard operating behind a central striker.

As it is, Hodgson’s 4-4-2 only accommodates two central midfielders with Ashley Young playing off target man Andy Carroll and with Gerrard captaining the side, it would leave a straight choice between Parker and Lampard to partner him.

The Gerrard/Lampard conundrum has vexed managers for years but despite the fact both are talismanic figures for their clubs, the simple point to make is this: if we are still asking the question of whether they can make it work together after 10 years, then the answer has to be no.

Lampard had another chance to answer it earlier this week, to which he replied: “Yes. But I’m not going to say no am I?”

He isn’t, because it would be an admission of failure and equally an acceptance he would not start against France given Gerrard’s inclusion is a certainty barring injury.

Lampard has adapted his game to a more defensive role in Chelsea’s system but the extra midfielder affords him some leeway to attack. A flat four alongside Gerrard would not.

He also provided the option of playing further forward in place of Gerrard should the Liverpool man suffer from injury – he withdrew at the halfway stage of yesterday’s golf day in Hertfordshire to ensure his fitness.

Lampard said: “When told not to cross halfway you wouldn’t, but in general sense of play I would always like to think goals are something I can bring to the team because in Champions League or international football sometimes you limit your team and wonder where the goals are going to come from.”

Lampard’s remarkable goalscoring record supports his enduring confidence to provide an end product but Parker has no such pretensions.

The 31-year-old is England’s only recognised defensive midfielder of prominence since Owen Hargreaves succumbed to his body’s proclivity to break down.

Although England are relaxed about Parker’s condition, there are concerns over an ongoing Achilles problem that needs careful management. Parker played 56 minutes of last weekend’s 1-0 friendly victory over Norway before coming off to have his ankle immediately encased in ice packs. The exact nature of his condition is unclear. Essentially, there has been no rupture but Parker is struggling to recover after matches.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp underlined the confusion around the root cause when, speaking ahead of the club’s final game of the season against Fulham, he declared in almost the same sentence that Parker could be out for several weeks but also available to play that same weekend.

He has had a series of injections to help cure the problem but Redknapp opined that “maybe the only cure is a bit of rest” and that is where Lampard may have come in. With Lampard’s absence expected to be confirmed by a scan today, Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson will join the squad.

The 21-year-old has played only twice for England and endured a difficult first season at Anfield as he struggled to acclimatise to the expectation that is part of being a £20million player.

Henderson broke into the Sunderland side as a right midfielder and only switched to a central position following an injury to Lee Cattermole. Frequently deployed on the right wing at Liverpool, Henderson failed to produce his best form.

It is hardly the most compelling profile to recommend deputising for Parker, but with Michael Carrick reluctant to be a bit part player, Lampard’s injury is set to reduce Hodgson’s options further.

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