Owen Hargreaves' first full England cap could involve something more significant than a walk-on part. Sven-Goran Eriksson is now much closer to including the 20-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder in his starting line-up for tomorrow's friendly against Holland at White Hart Lane.

With Liverpool's Steven Gerrard forced out by an ankle injury and a decision to be made on Nicky Butt's fitness this morning, the Manchester United man having picked up a knock in Sunday's Charity Shield, the England coach finds himself short of midfield players who can attack from a defensive stance.

Another Liverpool player, Jamie Carragher, is a strong option along with West Ham's Michael Carrick, but so intrigued is Eriksson by the way the Canadian-born Hargreaves sprang to the attention of international football in the latter stages of last season's Champions League that he may find the temptation to put him straight into the England side hard to resist.

Hargreaves, spotted by Bayern on a Canadian tour four years ago, has made only 20 appearances in the Bundesliga but with three full German league games already behind him this season must be slightly ahead of the rest of Eriksson's squad in terms of match fitness.

So he could now be the replacement for Gerrard with a chance to convince Eriksson that should the Liverpool player suffer another relapse before the World Cup qualifier with Germany a fortnight on Saturday he should stay in the side for what would, after all, be a game on his home ground.

The England coach has had personal contact with Hargreaves for a little more than a day but must be reassured about the young player's ability to take such an unexpected promotion in his stride.

In fact Hargreaves' whole career has been a tale of the unexpected. Yes, he said, it would be nice to be chosen for the senior team tomorrow after the disappointment of being part of an England under-21 side walloped 4-0 by Spain.

"Back in Canada the idea of being picked for the England team would have been regarded by 99 per cent of people as crazy," he added, "but while ice hockey is the national sport I was always going to be a footballer because of my English father."

The quirks and coincidences of football never cease to intrigue. The last man to appear in a European Cup final for a German team (Hamburg) and also play for England was one Kevin Keegan, whose sudden resignation following Germany's 1-0 World Cup win at Wembley last October created the circumstances which led to Eriksson's appointment.

It is hard to believe that, had Eriksson not been in charge, Hargreaves would now be lined up for a cap. Yesterday, Hargreaves impressed reporters with the ease of his answers. Certainly he is well aware of his capabilities. "For Bayern I'm a defensive midfielder there to win the ball and often used in a holding role," he explained yesterday. "I usually play in the centre but I don't mind playing wide although I'm happier playing on the right rather than the left.

"I like to get forward and shoot when I can. In fact shooting is one of my strengths." Hargreaves is clearly not easily overawed. His jaw probably did not drop at the thought of playing alongside David Beckham. "While I haven't played in England I'm familiar with the English game," he said.

A young English player anticipating his first full cap would be full of how his relatives would be in the stadium willing him on. Not Hargreaves: "They may surprise me, but my parents were in Europe on holiday two weeks ago. . . so I can't see them coming back for tomorrow's game."

Frank de Boer is a major injury worry for the Netherlands ahead of the friendly, just days after getting dispensation from FIFA to play.

The Barcelona player, who is serving a ban from football for failing a drugs test in a UEFA Cup tie, has an Achilles injury. It was hoped De Boer, whose ban for the use of nandrolone ends on August 31st, would play some part at White Hart Lane in order to get vital match practice ahead of the crucial World Cup qualifier against Ireland.

The match, the day after his ban ends, will have a sharp bearing on Group Two.