England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson might play Shaun
Wright-Phillips on the left flank against Holland next month
- meaning David Beckham's place is safe.
Wright-Phillips was
expected to replace Beckham on the right-hand side of
midfield in the friendly at Villa Park.
But Eriksson said: "It's
not his best position but I'm sure Shaun could also play on
the left. Even if, for Shaun, it's better to be on the
right.
"The fact is David is our
captain and he will go on being our captain."
Eriksson knows he also has
the option of switching Beckham to a central role to
accommodate Wright-Phillips, who has been in sparkling form
for Manchester City this season, on the right.
"David now for one and a
half years has played central midfield for Real Madrid so of
course it's possible he could do that maybe for the national
team as well," said Eriksson.
"That depends on the way we
want to play."
The Swede said he had not
been swayed by recent media criticism of Beckham's
displays.
"I don't agree with it or
understand it," he told BBC Five Live.
"He is playing regular
football for Real Madrid, which is not that bad, so I will
pick him and he will probably play from the beginning."
England are likely to
start with an experienced line-up against the Dutch on 9
February as Eriksson steps up his preparations for World
Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan in
March.
But Middlesbrough winger
Stewart Downing is likely to be handed a first senior cap
against the Dutch.
Downing has been touted
as the long-term solution to England's problem on the left
side of midfield.
"He's very interesting
and he's doing very well and playing better and better,"
said Eriksson.
"It's good to talk abut
players like Wright-Phillips and Stewart Downing.
"They are two young boys,
both very talented and playing very good football at this
moment, very consistent.
"I don't know who's going
to start. First I will pick the squad, 22 players or maybe
23, and I will see if they are tired or not.
"But for sure I will try
to start with the best team because it's the only chance
we have to play together before the qualification games in
March."
