Asking a centre-back to play in England's midfield will always rekindle memories of a rain-drenched defeat to Germany, a bewildered Gareth Southgate and Kevin Keegan resigning in the lavatories, but as Sven-Goran Eriksson embarks on his own period of experimentation he appears to have no concerns that Ledley King might cause an explosion in the laboratory.

On the contrary, Eriksson has plans that could make the Spurs captain a prominent figure in next summer's World Cup.

When Eriksson names his team for tomorrow's encounter against Poland, confirmation is expected that King, on his 25th birthday, now ranks above Phil Neville, Owen Hargreaves, Alan Smith, Nicky Butt and Michael Carrick as the best-placed candidate to fill what has become known as the Claude Makelele role.

With Steven Gerrard injured, it could be said that King is taking his place in midfield by default, but that argument loses strength when it is revealed that Eriksson had given serious consideration to including him from the start against Austria.

England's head coach toyed with the idea of sacrificing Joe Cole, but opted to retain him because he regarded Austria as limited opponents.

Against the type of slick offensive unit that might confront England next summer, Eriksson remains convinced that it is wise to revert to a diamond, with a specialist holding player deployed behind Gerrard, Frank Lampard and David Beckham. King may be deployed as a centre-back at White Hart Lane, but he played in midfield during David Pleat's time as interim manager.

"Sven spoke to me about it before the Austria game and people here have said that I can do a good job in that position, so it's something I've had to work towards," King said yesterday.

"I've played there at club level and if I get asked to play in that position for England I would be delighted."

His favoured position is centre-back and the consensus of many Tottenham supporters is that he is a better player than Sol Campbell at the same age. Witness, for example, the manner in which he subdued Thierry Henry during England's first fixture of Euro 2004. King had been so flustered by the media's attention in Portugal that when, before the France game, he was asked which foot he had broken in the European Under-21 Championships he stuttered: "I'm not sure. One of them." Yet he confounded those who thought he would be gripped by nerves.

Eriksson, however, has an abundance of central defenders and King's international career might have greater longevity were he to divert from his customary position.