England boost as Campbell declares himself fit for Turkey

England's Euro 2004 qualifying chances were given a huge boost when Arsenal centre-back Sol Campbell declared himself fit to face Turkey in Wednesday's crucial qualifier.

Campbell missed England's lacklustre 2-0 win over Liechtenstein on Saturday due to an Achilles tendon injury. But after resuming training he is expected to replace Gareth Southgate and renew his defensive partnership with Rio Ferdinand.

"The stiffness is still there, but the rest has done me good and I should be alright for the game," Campbell said at England's pre-match base in the Northumberland countryside Monday.

"It's very frustrating but it was a little too stiff for the game - but we got the result we needed.

"If I had forced myself to play against Liechtenstein I could have been doubtful for this game."

Victory over Turkey would put England top of the group and wipe out the memories of an embarassing home draw to Macedonia and the unconvincing display against the part-timers of Liechtenstein.

Campbell said a victory over the Turks, third in last summer's World Cup, was crucial if England were to avoid a nail-biting trip to Istanbul for the final qualifier.

"You have got to win the right games and this is the game to win," Campbell said. "We don't want to end up having to go over there and get a draw or whatever. We have got to do it now."

England do have a minor concern over the fitness of captain David Beckham, who missed training on Monday with a blistered foot. The Manchester United midfielder is expected to be ready for Wednesday's clash at Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

Newcastle's Kieron Dyer was rested as usual on the Monday after a game to allow his sore shins to recover but is also expected to be fit.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is under pressure to throw Everton's 17-year-old Wayne Rooney into the fray from the outset against Turkey after he impressed in the last quarter of an hour against Liechtenstein.

But the Swede has indicated that Rooney will remain on the bench.

"I don't think you can expect him to come in and resolve a game against Turkey," he said.

Speculation about a possible start for Rooney had been fuelled by the injury to Emile Heskey which led to his appearance on Saturday. But Liverpool striker Heskey has recovered from his knee knock and will be ready to join his club striking partner Michael Owen on Wednesday.

Owen pledged that the fans in the Stadium of Light would see a different England to the one which laboured to victory in Liechtenstein.

"We'll be up for it," he said. "As soon as the draw was made we knew that the crunch would come with the games against Turkey and we know we have to get a result."

Owen admitted that England's recent displays, including a friendly defeat at the hands of Australia, had not been good.

But he insisted: "We won't go into this game thinking about our past record.

"It is usually a lot easier to be in a competitive game and to raise yourself to play a top class side."