Defoe on Euro standby as doubt over Vassell

TOTTENHAM striker Jermain Defoe is on standby for a possible call-up to England’s Euro 2004 squad if Darius Vassell fails to recover from injury in time.

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s main injury concerns currently centre on his defence, with Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Southgate in a race to prove their fitness.

And with Ledley King also carrying a hip injury, and the England coach not believing Wes Brown is not back to his full fitness, Sol Campbell and John Terry are his only first-choice fit centre-backs.