Captain Shearer answers Hoddle's call

WORLD CUP FOOTBALL: England manager names world's most expensive player as his leader of the pack

After all those years when we thought Roy of the Rovers was a fictional character it turns out he really does exist. He is 26, lives in Newcastle and answers to the name Alan Shearer.

Having being crowned leading goal scorer in the European Championship and become the world's most expensive player, Shearer yesterday added the title of England captain to his roll of honours. Truly a Boy's Own Story.

Even Shearer himself admitted, as he prepared to leave Luton airport to fly here for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier, "It's been an amazing few weeks, I'm just waiting for something to go wrong."

Cynics could point to Newcastle's start as that something but Shearer has greeted that disappointment with the sort of equanimity which has lead to this latest recognition.

No doubt he will take just as easily into his stride the loss of his striking partner, Teddy Sheringham, who did not travel yesterday. Sheringham failed a fitness test on a muscle strain (possibly thigh) at about the same time Shearer was being told of his appointment.

Glenn Hoddle is thus left with only 19 players including three goalkeepers. It means every outfield player will either play or be on the substitutes' bench. "We are down to the bare bones," Hoddle said, "but we have enough across the board to cover everywhere."

Of Shearer's appointment, he said: "Before we joined up I had spoken to different people about Alan, especially Ray Harford [his former manager at Blackburn].

"I spoke to Alan, he seemed up for it, he wanted the job. In four days it is obviously difficult to come to 100 per cent conclusions. I've never met Alan before - except on the pitch. At the moment it is just for Sunday but hopefully it will be a long term appointment.

"He knows how to conduct himself on and off the pitch, fellow pros respect him and he understands the team situation even though he is a goal scorer, which is a rare quality to have.

"A captain needs to be unselfish and keep a cool head in the heat of the moment. I think he can, and he will also have the respect of referees which is important."

Shearer said: "I'm obviously delighted, I won't change and I don't see why it should affect my goal scoring. I will be a leader on and off the pitch. I always hoped he'd ask me and there was no way I would turn it down."

Shearer, who has won 28 full caps since making his debut in early 1992, has previously captained the Under-21 international side and on occasions Southampton, at the age of 21, and Blackburn. He cited Jimmy Case as his best captain, noting "I was very young at the time and I learned from him how a captain should look after young players."

That is a key aspect of the job in Hoddle's mind. The England coach said: "He has a very important role when new players come into the squad. The captain is in between the manager and them. I think they will feel Alan is approachable."

Shearer has displayed his level-headedness many times over the last year. Despite going 12 internationals and 1,043 minutes without a goal, he never betrayed the slightest concern and was always the model of diplomacy.

Having chosen his captain, Hoddle just has some fine-tuning left to do. He will not name his team until just before kick-off but he knows - depending on injury - what it is.

The bulk of the side has been handed down by Terry Venables. Eight of the team which contested Euro 96 will start, the only absentees being the injured Steve McManaman, Darren Anderton, Tony Adams and Sheringham.

Pallister will replace Adams but the loss of Anderton and McManaman means we will not know until next month whether Hoddle intends to copy Venables' use of wingers in the wide roles, or whether he will continue to use attacking full-backs as he did at Chelsea.

Unless Steve Stone gets an unexpected game, England will play with full- backs tomorrow. Gary Neville is expected to be on the right and either Stuart Pearce or Andy Hinchcliffe on the left. If Pearce plays wide, Sol Campbell will come into a back three which is expected to see Gareth Southgate as sweeper.

If Hinchcliffe plays, it will mark a dramatic rise, as he was only called into the squad on Sunday. The 27-year-old's previous brush with international football, a solitary Under-21 appearance, was many years ago.

The spare place in midfield, alongside Paul Ince and Paul Gascoigne, is likely to go to David Batty if he has recovered from his ankle injury. If not there could be a debut for David Beckham - or a recall for Matt Le Tissier.

Moldova are expected to play a sweeper and man-mark. To that end England have been concentrating on movement and forward runs during training, a practice they displayed successfully in a match against the Under-21s.

Moldova have only been playing international football for 28 months. Of 16 matches they have lost 10, winning just one of the last 11. However, that win completed a home and away double over Georgia, despite the presence of Georgi Kinkladze. They have also defeated Azerbaijan and, most infamously, a Wales side containing Neville Southall.

A few players have gained contracts with Dutch and Belgian sides, but the leading player, defender and second top scorer (with three goals), Ion Testimitanu, remains in Moldova. He is relatively well-paid locally, commanding a five-figure annual salary, but could probably earn more at Hartlepool, let alone Newcastle.

"It is a tough place to play," Hoddle said. "The Germans had a tough game there and the Welsh got turned over. They are very passionate. It is a new country and they are getting behind their team. If they score it is phenomenal to them.

"Conditions are going to be awkward. Those players who have only become involved in the squad in the last two years will not have come up against them. Come kick-off time we will have to be professional and get on with it."

England are taking their own food and staying in a hotel which has been regularly inspected by the FA. Hoddle and his assistant, John Gorman, have watched Moldova twice, at home against Romania in the summer (1-3) and in Turkey (0-2) a few weeks ago.

"The pitch is the biggest headache," Hoddle said. "The Under-21s play on it [today] which is a unique situation. We have the right to train on it but I will see what it is like first. I'll be happy with three points, if it is 1-0 that's fine. It is very important to put a marker down, to put the pressure on the other teams, if it does not go right for us it puts pressure on ourselves."

Italy visit on 5 October, which is the next match in Group Two. England ought to be able to follow that game content in the knowledge that they have already left here with three points.

Gascoigne minds the kids, page 24