Campbell returns as moment of truth looms for Eriksson

Sol Campbell and Emile Heskey will be fit to take their place in a reshaped England team that will face Turkey at the Stadium of Light tomorrow. The pair both trained at the squad's Northumberland base yesterday as Sven Goran Eriksson prepared for the most personally crucial match of his command.

The World Cup qualifier against Germany, and the quarter-final against Brazil, were each more important to the national team than this Euro 2004 qualifier, but this time Eriksson's own fate is on the line.

Since slipping meekly out of the World Cup, England have produced five pale performances. Another, against the World Cup semi-finalists, is likely to result in England needing to win a play-off to reach the tournament in Portugal next year.

Eriksson would keep his job, as to terminate his contract would result in prohibitive costs for the financially embarrassed Football Association. This could be, depending on the drafting, £10m. Failure to qualify would be even more costly.

Unsurprisingly, there is evidence of nerves being strained within the organisation, although the FA seemed relaxed when it found a Turkish official had recorded England's training session. This was possible as England's hotel, while isolated amid vast acres of scenic woodland, has a golf course.

The spy toting a video recorder with his irons will have recorded a belated change in approach by Eriksson. The Swede has stuck doggedly to his straight-line 4-4-2 but in training yesterday he experimented with alternatives. These are believed to include the diamond midfield formation which rescued England in October when they floundered in Bratislava, and the 4-3-3 system used to limited effect late in the subsequent draw with Macedonia.

Of the two, the diamond system is preferable. It eases the left-side problem and advances Paul Scholes, who last scored an international goal in June 2001 despite playing all 20 games since, into areas where he can hurt the opposition. This would involve either Nicky Butt or Steven Gerrard anchoring the midfield with Gerrard or Kieron Dyer on the left. However, England were unable to work fully on the change as both David Beckham and Dyer sat out training to rest minor knocks.

Both are expected to be fit along with Heskey and Campbell, who will replace Gareth Southgate in the starting line-up. Campbell said a week's rest had eased his Achilles problem although the Arsenal defender, still suffered stiffness in the morning. He will have to live with that, probably right through to the season's end on 12 June. "It doesn't need an operation, just time, but at the moment I haven't got time," Campbell said. Playing Everton and Chelsea in 72 hours had "overloaded" an injury which had already caused him to miss two Arsenal games in March.

"Adrenalin can take you up 10 per cent but if you are still short you are not doing yourself justice," he said. "When it was really bad, I couldn't move."

Heskey's knee problem has also improved, which will not please those clamouring for him to be replaced by Wayne Rooney. Campbell, though full of admiration for Rooney, made it clear he is not among them.

"You have got to look at his age. You can't keep thrusting young lads in. He's a fantastic prospect. He is learning all the time just being in the squad," he said of the 17-year-old. Besides, said Campbell, Heskey deserves his place. "The players know what he contributes. Sometimes the press and fans get on to someone but it's what the manager and players think that counts. They know how difficult it is to play that position."

Of the Liechtenstein game Campbell said he felt "the result was the main thing and they did enough". As good a summation of England's performance as any but "doing enough" may not be enough tomorrow.

Campbell was unperturbed. "When you lose a couple of games, or draw them, people start to doubt you," he said. "As a footballer you have to be tougher than that. You have to say 'I know what I can do.' We know what we can do as a team. We just have to start doing it. Turkey are a great side. That will bring the best out of us."