Hargreaves closing in on full fitness

Owen Hargreaves is on target to return to action for the World Cup quarter-finals if England are still in the competition.

Hargreaves has been sidelined since suffering a leg injury in an accidental clash with striker Michael Owen against Argentina.

An initial X-ray revealed that Hargreaves had not suffered a fracture, although a scan two days later proved "inconclusive".

But Sven-Goran Eriksson confirmed: "If we can get through this game then we think Owen might be fit for the next round."

Hargreaves admitted: "It has been a frustrating time for this to happen, especially with it being just about the first injury of my career, but I've been keeping my fingers crossed that it was not too serious."