Gerrard starts for England

Steven Gerrard was included in England’s starting line-up for their opening World Cup qualifying game in Austria tonight after passing a late fitness test.

The Liverpool midfielder had yesterday been rated as having only a 50-50 chance of starting the game in Vienna due to a groin problem.

Shaun Wright-Phillips was placed on standby to make his full debut, with David Beckham poised to move into central midfield, if Gerrard had been ruled out.

However, watched by members of England’s coaching and medical staff, he came through a half-hour fitness test at 11am today at a venue close to the Ernst Happel Stadium.

That was a considerable boost to Sven-Goran Eriksson, although he also needs Gerrard to be fit for the next qualifier in just four days’ time in Poland.

As a result, with Wright-Phillips back on the bench, Wayne Bridge was the only newcomer to the side from the starting line-up which took on Ukraine in a friendly at St James’ Park last month.

The Chelsea full-back was the latest potential solution to England’s left-sided problem, being chosen to play in tandem with Ashley Cole down that flank.

It was just over two years ago that Bridge was last asked to fill that midfield role for England, in the ill-fated 2-2 home draw against Macedonia.

However, Eriksson has turned to him – rather than Joe Cole or Kieron Dyer - after the international retirement of Paul Scholes and the injury problems affecting Nicky Butt.

Up front, with Wayne Rooney still missing, Alan Smith again partnered Michael Owen, with Jermain Defoe and Darius Vassell on the bench.

Eriksson’s list of absentees, meanwhile, extended to the defence, where he was without not only Rio Ferdinand through suspension, but also Sol Campbell and Jonathan Woodgate through injury.

John Terry was therefore alongside fellow 23-year-old Ledley King in a relatively inexperienced central defensive partnership.

Otherwise, Frank Lampard made up the final element of the midfield quartet, while Cole and Gary Neville were at full-back, with David James in goal.