Sweden: Henrik Larsson

England’s World Cup dream could be gunned down during the summer, by the man who has terrorised Scottish defences since signing for Celtic.

Swedish striker Henrik Larsson added the Golden Shoe to his growing collection of honours and as he scored 53 goals in all competitions last season his club swept all before them to win a historic treble.

Larsson has struggled to recapture that awesome strike-rate this season but England should be aware his boots are catching fire again at just the right time before they to battle in the searing heat of Japan and South Korea.

The shaven-headed hitman has blasted plenty of goals as Celtic’s back-to-back treble bid gathers momentum.

But despite his reputation throughout Europe one question mark against him has been that he is yet to prove himself at the highest level.

Larsson has stayed loyal to the famous club and the supporters who idolise him by snubbing the chance to play on the continent and in England.

The Celtic star, part of the Sweden squad which earned third place in USA 94, now has the perfect stage to prove he is up there with the best when Group F kicks off during the summer.

Sweden have been drawn with Argentina, England and Nigeria for the summer’s festival of football in Japan and South Korea.

Most of the FA Barclaycard Premiership’s stars might know very little about him, but by the summer they will have no doubts as England coach and fellow countryman Sven-Goran Eriksson will give them every detail on the dangerman.

Celtic team-mate John Hartson admitted he too knew very little about Larsson when in England but now realises just how much damage he can do.

‘‘Henrik is a great player and even I didn’t realise just how good he was until I came up here,’’ said the Welshman. ‘‘He’s prolific, lethal.

‘‘Even when he doesn’t have one of his best games he is always a threat and can score at any time. England will have to watch him closely.’’

The admiring Swedish public are pinning their hopes on a player they keep tabs on, even though he plies his trade hundreds of miles away.

He has been voted player of the year back home on two occasions and has scored some vital goals in taking his country to the World Cup finals.

In recent seasons he has also impressed against Europe’s biggest sides including Manchester United, Juventus, Ajax, Porto and Valencia to illustrate that he can also produce the magic outside of Scotland.

Larsson’s name will still not send the same wave of fear through world defences as the likes of Rivaldo, Gabriel Batistuta and Thierry Henry, and he is unlikely to be named as a striker to watch.

That can be expected as Hibernian, Livingston, Hearts, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Kilmarnock, St

Johnstone and even Rangers do not exactly set the pulses of the world’s football loving public racing.

England feel they have their own secret weapon in Michael Owen, but should they choose to ignore Larsson it could be ‘Sayonara’ for Sven and his boys.