Thompson hopes to grasp England chance

Alan Thompson is hoping to be given the chance to offer a natural answer to England’s left-sided question in tomorrow’s friendly in Sweden after fearing his international chance had vanished.

Sven-Goran Eriksson has largely settled on a midfield diamond, featuring Steven Gerrard, Paul Scholes or Frank Lampard on that flank, as his solution to the lack of a left-footed midfielder.