From 'Sporting Life'
Dean Ashton has been ruled out of England's friendly against Greece at Old Trafford after breaking an ankle in training on Tuesday morning.
Ashton was taken to hospital for a scan to discover the extent of the injury and even before learning the result, new England boss Steve McClaren admitted: "It has really clouded our morning".
The West Ham striker would have made his debut against the European champions but Ashton's place has now been handed to Jermaine Defoe.
McClaren said: "It is really disappointing when a young player is given his chance then he gets injured.
"We had done some work on Dean on Monday and did some more on Tuesday morning, but these things happen in football. We are just very sorry to see this happen."
McClaren revealed he sought the opinion of Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez before opting to play Steven Gerrard in a new role on the right side of midfield.
He added: "I have decided to have a look at Stevie on the right because he played there for Liverpool for the majority of last season and scored 23 goals.
"I had a good conversation with Rafa early last week and discussed the situation. I spoke with Stevie and he is delighted with that - he will play anywhere for England.
"It is an evolution, we are trying new things and we are just looking at one or two different things and the shape of the team is one thing. I am looking for the attitude when we don't have the ball and do have the ball, I am looking for possession and keeping the ball better than we have in the past."
McClaren is aware a good performance is needed, as he continued: "We have to convince the fans.
"I've been to plenty of pre-season games and it's very difficult for clubs to attract fans, they are waiting for the start of the Premiership season.
"Whoever turns up, we want to give a performance of which the fans will be proud.
"The players should be proud to wear the shirt - no matter what the game is.
"It's a friendly but we want to win and play well - and put things in place for the future."
He is impressed with his squad in training, adding: "I've worked with these players for five years now and it's no different on the training ground, with their intensity.
"They are a bunch of players who at times you have to settle down - but they are willing learners."
McClaren was keen to stress how much of a fan he was of Jermain Defoe and Stewart Downing, who are both including in the starting line-up against Greece.
"Jermain was close to World Cup squad and he has always impressed me. He is a confidence player and needs the trust of a coach and team-mates and he has that.
"He has an opportunity and, yes, he has something to prove, but everyone has.
"I like Jermain and if you get the ball in right areas he can be very dangerous."
On left-winger Downing he added: "We want to play with width; sometimes we will play with two wide and one striker, sometimes with one wide and one striker.
"I have to get blend and balance and Stewart gives me great balance on the left. It is important to have that width from someone and he has proved that in the past."
McClaren also revealed he and the players were enjoying the input former England boss Terry Venables had on his return to the international set-up as assistant.
"Everyone knows Terry and what a character and personality he is and he blends in naturally with other people," he told a press conference televised on Sky Sports News.
"He is a football person and he can talk football till the cows come home.
"He has some great ideas for the team which we want to implement and we will develop a good working relationship."
On the test Greece will pose his team, which McClaren accepted would not be at full match fitness, he added: "They are all difficult games.
"They are very well organised and hard to beat. I know their players and the system they play and they will be dangerous opponents but in such a short get-together we have to concentrate on our performance.
"It is pre-season. I have seen enough games over last two weeks to know players are half a yard short and not quite at the tempo of things and you will see that.
"Some of these players that have been at the World Cup have only been training for two or three weeks.
"There will be mistakes but we have to get the shackles off and play without fear.
"Whatever the outcome we will learn a lot from this game."
Team: Robinson, G Neville, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Gerrard, Hargreaves, Lampard, Downing, Defoe, Crouch.
Dean Ashton has been ruled out of England's friendly against Greece at Old Trafford after breaking an ankle in training on Tuesday morning.
Ashton was taken to hospital for a scan to discover the extent of the injury and even before learning the result, new England boss Steve McClaren admitted: "It has really clouded our morning".
The West Ham striker would have made his debut against the European champions but Ashton's place has now been handed to Jermaine Defoe.
McClaren said: "It is really disappointing when a young player is given his chance then he gets injured.
"We had done some work on Dean on Monday and did some more on Tuesday morning, but these things happen in football. We are just very sorry to see this happen."
McClaren revealed he sought the opinion of Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez before opting to play Steven Gerrard in a new role on the right side of midfield.
He added: "I have decided to have a look at Stevie on the right because he played there for Liverpool for the majority of last season and scored 23 goals.
"I had a good conversation with Rafa early last week and discussed the situation. I spoke with Stevie and he is delighted with that - he will play anywhere for England.
"It is an evolution, we are trying new things and we are just looking at one or two different things and the shape of the team is one thing. I am looking for the attitude when we don't have the ball and do have the ball, I am looking for possession and keeping the ball better than we have in the past."
McClaren is aware a good performance is needed, as he continued: "We have to convince the fans.
"I've been to plenty of pre-season games and it's very difficult for clubs to attract fans, they are waiting for the start of the Premiership season.
"Whoever turns up, we want to give a performance of which the fans will be proud.
"The players should be proud to wear the shirt - no matter what the game is.
"It's a friendly but we want to win and play well - and put things in place for the future."
He is impressed with his squad in training, adding: "I've worked with these players for five years now and it's no different on the training ground, with their intensity.
"They are a bunch of players who at times you have to settle down - but they are willing learners."
McClaren was keen to stress how much of a fan he was of Jermain Defoe and Stewart Downing, who are both including in the starting line-up against Greece.
"Jermain was close to World Cup squad and he has always impressed me. He is a confidence player and needs the trust of a coach and team-mates and he has that.
"He has an opportunity and, yes, he has something to prove, but everyone has.
"I like Jermain and if you get the ball in right areas he can be very dangerous."
On left-winger Downing he added: "We want to play with width; sometimes we will play with two wide and one striker, sometimes with one wide and one striker.
"I have to get blend and balance and Stewart gives me great balance on the left. It is important to have that width from someone and he has proved that in the past."
McClaren also revealed he and the players were enjoying the input former England boss Terry Venables had on his return to the international set-up as assistant.
"Everyone knows Terry and what a character and personality he is and he blends in naturally with other people," he told a press conference televised on Sky Sports News.
"He is a football person and he can talk football till the cows come home.
"He has some great ideas for the team which we want to implement and we will develop a good working relationship."
On the test Greece will pose his team, which McClaren accepted would not be at full match fitness, he added: "They are all difficult games.
"They are very well organised and hard to beat. I know their players and the system they play and they will be dangerous opponents but in such a short get-together we have to concentrate on our performance.
"It is pre-season. I have seen enough games over last two weeks to know players are half a yard short and not quite at the tempo of things and you will see that.
"Some of these players that have been at the World Cup have only been training for two or three weeks.
"There will be mistakes but we have to get the shackles off and play without fear.
"Whatever the outcome we will learn a lot from this game."
Team: Robinson, G Neville, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Gerrard, Hargreaves, Lampard, Downing, Defoe, Crouch.
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