Thumbs-up for Wright-Phillips

Shaun Wright-Phillips was given a vote of confidence by Sven-Goran Eriksson as he kept his place at the expense of Chelsea team-mate Joe Cole for the World Cup qualifier with Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.

Wright-Phillips made his first competitive start for his country in Saturday’s uninspiring 1-0 victory over Wales in the Millennium Stadium.

He was preferred to Cole, who scored the only goal, as Eriksson opted to bring back Michael Owen after serving a one-match ban.

It was England’s only change as they attempted to register a seventh-successive group win and move to within three points of ensuring their place in the 2006 finals in Germany.

Northern Ireland named an unchanged line-up for the first time in 68 matches, with Lawrie Sanchez keeping faith with the side which defeated Azerbaijan 2-0.

Northern Ireland: Taylor, Baird, Capaldi, Hughes, Craigan, Davis, Gillespie, Johnson, Healy, Quinn, Elliott. Replacements: Ingham, Robinson, Jones, Feeney, Sproule, Duff, Brunt.

England: Robinson, Young, Ferdinand, Carragher, A. Cole, Lampard, Beckham, Gerrard, Wright-Phillips, Owen, Rooney. Replacements: Upson, Kirkland, Neville, Hargreaves, J. Cole, Bent, Defoe.

Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland)