England boss Steve McClaren is reportedly set to start Scott Carson ahead of Paul Robinson for Wednesday's clash with Croatia.
Wright-Phillips to get the nod over Beckham
England boss Steve McClaren is reportedly set to drop Paul Robinson and David Beckham for Wednesday's make-or-break Euro 2008 qualifier with Croatia with Scott Carson and Shaun Wright-Phillips starting.
McClaren is believed to have plumped for the inexperienced Carson to start in goal ahead of error-prone Robinson.
Carson only made his debut in last Friday's friendly win over Austria and he impressed in Vienna.
McClaren is now ready to take a gamble on the Aston Villa loanee for the game which will decide England's Euro 2008 fate with the former Middlesbrough boss revealing he had made his mind up on the goalkeeping dilemma a while ago.
Decided
"I made my mind up about the goalkeeping situation well before the players joined up on Sunday evening," said McClaren.
"I have made plenty of big decisions in the past and this is a big game when more big decisions will be made.
"It does not matter what age you are. You can be a big-game player at 18 or 33.
"Experience can be invaluable but so can the innocence of youth. There is risk in everything."
Chelsea winger Wright-Phillips is also expected to start on the right side of midfield ahead of Beckham who will drop to the bench.
McClaren is set to employ a five-man midfield with Peter Crouch playing in a lone striker role and McClaren believes Wright-Phillips' pace could prove vital.
Very good
"The last three games Shaun Wright-Phillips has played at Wembley have been very good," noted McClaren.
"He has scored a couple of goals and created chances. We have spoken about having pace on both flanks and Shaun has given us that."
