Security fears put England's Vaduz qualifier in doubt

Wayne Rooney played himself back into the England squad at Highbury yesterday afternoon but whether the 17-year-old, or anyone else, will even be travelling to Liechtenstein for England's European Championship qualifier on Saturday is still to be determined.

Wayne Rooney played himself back into the England squad at Highbury yesterday afternoon but whether the 17-year-old, or anyone else, will even be travelling to Liechtenstein for England's European Championship qualifier on Saturday is still to be determined.

Fears have been raised over possible repercussions of the war in Iraq for the England team. This involves both the possibility of the squad becoming a target for terrorist action and of their attracting anti-war protests. In the wake of these fears Uefa, the game's governing body in Europe, has given the Liechtenstein Football Association a deadline of 11am this morning to provide safety and security guarantees.

There is a real risk that the match will be postponed. Uefa is very aware that after the Heysel stadium disaster its officials were among those prosecuted for the inadequate condition of the stadium. The Liechtenstein authorities will recall that Belgian officials were also put in the dock.

Mike Lee, director of communications for Uefa, said: "Uefa representatives have met with representatives of the Liechtenstein FA and also with police and government officials.

"We have listened to the concerns they have expressed and in order for this game to go ahead they will have to provide written guarantees governing safety and security. Those guarantees have to cover not only the FA, but also the other appropriate authorities."

Fredi Hilti, vice-president of the Liechtenstein FA, said: "I cannot say the game will go ahead until Monday [today]. We have more meetings planned and are still checking out the situation. Since the start of the war, the security situation here has changed. We have the England team coming to play here and England is involved in the war."

There remains a remote prospect of the match being moved at short notice to a stadium in England, or adjacent Switzerland, with Uefa refusing to rule out the possibility of a venue switch.

Although a postponement could cause fixture problems, Eriksson will welcome the extra time to prepare for the critical fixture against Turkey in Sunderland on Wednesday 2 April.

As well as Rooney the squad will include John Terry, who has been called up for the first time, Jermaine Jenas and Francis Jeffers. That latter two are, with Rooney, the only survivors from the eight rookies called into the squad which lost to Australia last month. There is no place for James Beattie, who started against Australia, Joe Cole or Ledley King. Alan Smith, who is suspended for the match in Liechtenstein (or Turkey if the first match is postponed), was also omitted.

David Seaman, Ashley Cole and Wes Brown are ruled out by injury but Sol Campbell, who has been troubled with an Achilles problem, is included. Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said Campbell's fitness will be assessed today with a view to playing in tomorrow's FA Cup quarter-final replay at Chelsea. It would then be up to Eriksson to decide if he was fit to play for England.

The major interest will surround Rooney who is, said Wenger after his goal against Arsenal yesterday, "a special talent". Wenger added: "He looks much more mature since he played against us earlier in the season. You can see he is international class."

David Moyes, the Everton manager, was equally effusive but would clearly have preferred Rooney to be overlooked. "His ability is not in question but he is not ready to do it week-in, week-out," the Scot said. "That's why we are nursing him along. He needs to be developed."

Rooney scored his sixth goal of the season, in only his 10th start, yesterday but Moyes said: "He showed his potential but also showed his age. I would never stop anyone playing for their country. It is a great honour. I have spoken to Sven many times. I've not discouraged him from picking Wayne but he knows the situation.

"He's got some fabulous pieces to his game but he has a lot of parts which need to be worked at. A year ago he was in school and he is still growing. It was good for him to be recognised [against Australia] but too many young players have failed to develop. We have raved about them but they have not gone on." Joe Cole could bear witness to that, having been omitted despite playing a captain's role in West Ham's recent revival and being watched by Eriksson when he made their winning goal on Saturday. Beattie, who has continued to score for Southampton (on Saturday becoming the first Premiership player to 20 goals), will be disappointed too. Gareth Southgate is recalled while Jonathan Woodgate, Nicky Butt, Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey return after injury.

England will meet up tomorrow, shortly after the latest England kit is unveiled at a Heathrow hotel. Assuming the game is on, they will travel to Liechtenstein on Thursday.

ENGLAND SQUAD V LIECHTENSTEIN AND TURKEY

European Championship qualifiers v Liechtenstein, Vaduz, 29 March; v Turkey, Sunderland, 2 April

Goalkeepers: James (West Ham Utd), Robinson (Leeds Utd), Wright (Everton).

Defenders: G Neville (Manchester Utd), Mills (Leeds Utd), Bridge (Southampton), Ferdinand (Manchester Utd), Campbell (Arsenal), Southgate (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Newcastle Utd), Terry (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Beckham, Scholes, Butt (all Manchester Utd), Gerrard, Murphy (both Liverpool), Dyer, Jenas (both Newcastle Utd), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Lampard (Chelsea).

Forwards: Owen, Heskey (both Liverpool), Vassell (Aston Villa), Jeffers (Arsenal), Rooney (Everton).