Eriksson to pair Fowler and Heskey against Greece

England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has named 23 players for his squad to face Greece next week.

The figure could rise to 24 if Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt passes a fitness test tomorrow.

Tottenham veteran Teddy Sheringham returns to the squad but is not a likely starter.

Liverpool pair Robbie Fowler and Emile Heskey seem certain to start.

England need to beat Greece at Old Trafford on Saturday to ensure a place in the 2002 finals

Eriksson's side beat Germany 5-1 and Albania four weeks agop to draw level in group nine on points with Germany but they have a large goal difference lead over the Germans who host Finland in Gelsenkirchen.

Michael Owen miss the game next week with a hamstring injury. while defender Sol Campbell is struggling with a similar injury.

First choice goalkeeper David Seaman missed Arsenal's 2-0 win at Derby yesterday with an injured shoulder and is doubtful for the Greece match.

Eriksson's England camp leaked two days ago that Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard would be dropped after he was was fined by his club last week for a getting drunk at a Heathrow hotel used by America tourists hours after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Eriksson saw Fulham draw 1-1 with Chelsea today but there was no call-up yet for defender John Terry of Chelsea and Fulham midfielder Sean Davies.

"I'm sure a large number of people think we've qualified already.

"That is a very dangerous mistake, bearing in mind that we struggled at times in the 2-0 win against Albania in the last match, as well as away in Greece.

"This match will be difficult and we will have to have our focus correct."

The second place team in group nine will face either Ukraine or Belarus in the November play-offs for a place in Korea and Japan next May.

The squad in full -

Goalkeepers - David Seaman, Richard Wright, Nigel Martyn.

Defenders - Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Wes Brown, Phil Neville, Ashley Cole, Danny Mills, Martin Keown, Jamie Carragher, Ugo Ehiogu and Gareth Southgate.

Midfielders - Danny Murphy, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard, Nick Barmby, Trevor Sinclair and Steve McManaman.

Strikers - Andy Cole, Teddy Sheringham, Robbie Fowler and Emile Heskey.