The famously serene Sven-Goran Eriksson was flustered yesterday. The England coach was strolling along to a press conference when the team doctor Leif Sward came over to tell him that Steven Gerrard will miss Saturday's Euro 2004 qualifier against Macedonia because of an ankle injury, and the hint that he could face Liechtenstein four days later did not console Eriksson at all.
There was secondary damage to the Swede's equilibrium with the loss of Trevor Sinclair to a knee injury. Eriksson may flinch again if Dr Sward approaches him with a solemn expression; the Manchester United centre-half Rio Ferdinand is to see a specialist this morning about a kidney complaint.
He is grappling with greater uncertainties than that. Paul Scholes's groin condition prevents him from playing against Macedonia and with the unavailability of Gerrard, the lucky charm who has never been beaten with England, Eriksson must start from scratch to piece together a side from resources that now look disconcertingly threadbare.
A little praying is now called for in the trip to Skopje. It looks as if collecting three of the seven points needed to guarantee a place in the European Championship could be problematic. Eriksson might conclude that his much-discussed diamond formation in midfield would be too brittle to be put to the test in Macedonia.
There are still eight recognised men available for that area, since Kieron Dyer was excused training yesterday only as a precautionary measure because of a minor hamstring problem. Eriksson, however, will be eager to confirm the match fitness of the defensively minded Nicky Butt, who returned to action only as a substitute for Manchester United on Sunday.
It now looks as if the coach, from right to left, may select David Beckham, Butt, Owen Hargreaves and Frank Lampard as his midfield quartet. Wayne Rooney may well edge out Emile Heskey as Michael Owen's partner in Skopje.
Injuries are an inevitable aspect of Eriksson's work. "When you play in the Premier League you are always going to be at risk," he said. "The pace is incredible and the tackles are fair but tough. When you are England manager you always have to cross your fingers."
If Ferdinand cannot take part in Skopje, Sol Campbell will have John Terry by his side, and yesterday Eriksson decided that Matthew Upson should be drafted into the party as cover.
Even in this period of uncertainty the coach did not summon Gareth Southgate. The centre-back turns 33 today and Middlesbrough's poor form does not present him in a favourable light. It will require even greater devastation than Eriksson endured yesterday to grant him another cap.
