Soccer: Gerrard in for England

Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has shrugged off fitness doubts and will start for England in tonight’s friendly with Mexico at Pride Park.

Gerrard had been doubtful with a recurrence of the muscular problems which affected him for much of the season but coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has been able to name him in a side which also contains a three-pronged Anfield strikeforce with Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Emile Heskey all making the line-up.

As expected, Eriksson’s side was drawn from just four Premiership teams, with Manchester United providing three members of the team and Arsenal and Leeds two each.