Eriksson's World Cup options pile up 

LONDON (Reuters) - With wild fluctuations in form, a rash of disciplinary problems and a few friendlies in the pipeline, England manager Sven Goran Eriksson will not be short of options when it comes to choosing his World Cup squad.

Though the Swede built his teams around familiar faces during qualifying, events over the past few weeks have raised questions about every single area of the team.

The problems start literally at the beginning, with the wearer of the number one shirt.

Arsenal's David Seaman was Eriksson's unquestioned first choice before he suffered a shoulder injury last September which has kept him out of football since.

His club deputy Richard Wright, also Seaman's expected successor at international level, has suffered from injury and poor form failing to displace his understudy Stuart Taylor at Highbury since coming back.

Nigel Martyn, who took over for England's 2-2 draw with Greece which booked them into the finals, remains in the frame despite suffering a dip in form while David James has been on excellent shot-stopping form for West Ham United.

At the back, Gary Neville, Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole have been Eriksson's first choices.

WOODGATE'S PERFORMANCES

However, Jonathan Woodgate has won praise for his work alongside Ferdinand at Leeds since the end of his trial in Hull on assault charges, raising a thorny issue for Eriksson and FA chief executive Adam Crozier.

Woodgate, kept out of the squad during the trial, is unlikely to be picked until he has served his 100 hours of community service after being convicted of affray.

But whether or not he is allowed back in the England fold is still a delicate matter for the football authorities.

Another highly promising young defender, Chelsea's former England under-21 captain John Terry, has been charged with assault and affray after an alleged fight at a nightclub.

Tottenham's young replacement for Campbell, Ledley King, has an outside chance of making the squad, according to many fans including his club manager and former England boss Glenn Hoddle.

In the middle, the obvious choices are skipper David Beckham, despite a recent spell on the sidelines, Manchester United team mate Paul Scholes, nearing his best after a shaky start to the season, and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.

One candidate to join them, Leeds' Lee Bowyer, was denied any chance of international football last year due to the Hull trial, at which he was cleared of all charges.

Bowyer played consistently well for Leeds during the trial, and the FA have said he is clear for selection. 

DYER'S CASE

Many see Bowyer, a combative player who regularly scores goals, as the answer to the left side dilemma in midfield but Newcastle United midfielder Kieron Dyer has made a clear case for inclusion since returning from a 10-month injury absence.

Changes are also likely up front, around the immoveable figure of Liverpool's Michael Owen. Club and England team mate Emile Heskey has suffered a loss of form while Robbie Fowler, who felt squeezed out at Liverpool, has been rejuvenated by his move to Leeds.

Having scored an important qualifying goal against Albania, Fowler wanted to improve his World Cup chances by moving to south Yorkshire.

The gamble - also being attempted by Andy Cole with his move from Manchester United to Blackburn Rovers - has paid off with a goal tally that includes a hat-trick against Bolton Wanderers.

The case for 21-year-old Leeds striker Alan Smith, who is about to start a five-match ban, has been set back by a disciplinary record which includes six red cards. Eriksson could well regard Smith as too big a liability for the Asian finals.

Teddy Sheringham's experience, and the goalpoaching instinct he showed against Greece, should earn him a place in the squad, which bookmakers believe could welcome back another veteran.

Former skipper Alan Shearer, who retired from international football after Euro 2000, has been quoted at 8-1 -- down from 25-1 -- to play for England at this summer's finals.

With friendlies coming up against the Netherlands and Italy, and more likely to follow, Eriksson has plenty of cards to shuffle in the England pack - and Shearer could be the joker.

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