GLENN HODDLE landed in the coal black night of a power starved Tbilisi facing some tough decisions in the next two days: To play Paul Gascoigne, to find a new captain and to preserve a winning World Cup formula.

But the 39 year old has already surprised sceptics with his courage and willingness to confront controversy in his first three months as manager.

"Moldova was a good experience, so many players dropped out and I had to get into a decision making process straightaway. But I knew that's what this job involved and I have never ducked a decision in my life."

He has just made another big one, sending Paul Merson back to Arsenal for treatment instead of on to the five hour flight to the Black Sea former Soviet Republic. You have to give yourself a breathing space, a bit of time to think before you do anything," he says.

"Fortunately we are top of our World Cup group so I must have got the decisions right so far - although I think we could play better. You have to adjust to this type of management and how intense it becomes for one week. But it's still about dealing with people.

"And it's not as difficult as it was for people like Ron Greenwood a few years ago because I have a bigger support staff coaches, the FA and the like. He was making all the decisions on his own."

"It sounds strange but the Swindon job was a very good grounding for the England job because I had to make tough decisions quickly.

No doubt then, that Hoddle will be brave enough to drop Paul Gascoigne if he feels it is right. The sight of the troubled Rangers midfielder escorted across the airport concourse protected by a minder was a reminder of how outside pressures now influence the England team.

The withdrawal of Merson with a groin injury was another, raising the question of how self confessed alcoholic Tony Adams would cope without his fellow and supportive Recovery member.

"Paul's loss is a blow for him and us," said Hoddle, who has also lost Liverpool defender Dominic Matteo. "But they're the two areas in which we have most strength in depth."

Adams is one of five contenders for the captaincy left vacant by Alan Shearer's injury, with Gareth Southgate, David Seaman, Paul Ince and Stuart Pearce the others.

Hoddle will not make his view known until today but says: "It's pretty clued up in my mind. I will announce it later in the week and explain the issues then.

"You need leaders in a match like this and there are a few who are candidates as 90 minute captains. I will address it at the right time publicly."

The issue of Gascoigne is now simplifying, Hoddle insisting that his private life and problems forgotten for the few days out here. "The counselling is no longer an issue with Paul Gascoigne, it's football now.

"That's all I want to think about now. I wouldn't be doing my job right if I was focusing on anything else but Paul Gascoigne the footballer. I haven't picked the team yet. I haven't told him whether he is playing or not. I will make that decision in the next few days.

"I want to see him in training - he's been under a lot of pressure and I need to judge him as a footballer with one aim in mind. I have got to see how settled his mind is - but it probably helps that it's an away game - there are no outside influences here in Georgia"

Merson's withdrawal will be an encouragement to Gascoigne who must have seen the Arsenal midfielder as a threat.

Hoddle, who tried to help his players begin to acclimatise to a five hour time difference by taking them training as soon as they landed is also hoping David Seaman will prove his fitness after a dead leg.