McClaren waits on Hargreaves fitness

Manchester United-bound Owen Hargreaves is England coach Steve McClaren’s major fitness concern before he announces his squad on Saturday to face Brazil at Wembley on June 1 and the Euro qualifier in Estonia five days later.

Hargreaves, who is close to completing a switch from Bayern Munich to Old Trafford, has been having treatment on a knee problem in between talks with United officials.

The midfielder was England’s star of the World Cup finals last summer but a broken leg meant he missed the crucial qualifiers with Macedonia and Croatia when a return of one point from a possible six dented hopes of reaching the 2008 finals.

McClaren steered away from speculation about Hargreaves’ future but his availability for the Estonia game would be a welcome tonic.

The former Middlesbrough boss said: “The future of Owen Hargreaves is pure speculation at the moment and it is not for me to comment on Manchester United’s business.

“But from England’s point of view. Owen has been injured for quite a few weeks. This week he has been working with his physio in Germany on his knee and we are hoping to have him fit for selection when I pick the squad on Saturday morning.”

Hargreaves partnered Steven Gerrard in the centre of the park during the 3-0 win over Andorra in Barcelona two months ago when Frank Lampard was ruled out with a wrist injury.

McClaren’s other chief fitness concern will be that Michael Owen reports a clean bill of health after playing in the ’B’ international against Albania at Turf Moor following his long lay-off with a serious knee problem.

His options up front are limited with Wayne Rooney suspended for the Estonia clash after picking up successive yellow cards against Israel and Andorra while Andrew Johnson is injured.

England have badly missed the finishing power of Owen whose 36 goals in 80 games for his country places him fourth in the all-time scoring charts for his country behind Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Bobby Charlton.

Inevitably, much interest will surround whether McClaren decides to backtrack and recall David Beckham whose 94th and final cap to date was in the World Cup quarter-final with Portugal last summer.

McClaren would only say: “There is a lot of speculation about the squad. It is named on Saturday and everyone will know then who is included.

“I’ve got to check on the Liverpool players, make sure the Manchester United and Chelsea players are available, and put everything together and name a squad on Saturday. You will be looking forward to that, I am sure!”

While the Brazil game will be a showpiece occasion at the new Wembley, McClaren is aware the priority has to be a victory in Estonia.

Anything less could put his own position in jeopardy after the reaction of fans towards him before and during the Andorran game despite England eventually winning 3-0.

McClaren said: “There is no better game to excite the whole country than the Brazil game and the players will feel the same. But the key thing is the preparation towards Estonia. That is the big game.

“If we win that one it will put us in a great position going into the last five qualifying games next season with four of them being at the new Wembley.”