Taylor worry for Gerrard

PFA chief Gordon Taylor believes Steven Gerrard should not play for England if he requires a painkilling injection.

Players' chief doesn't want midfielder's health risked

The Liverpool captain is currently a major doubt for England's Euro 2008 qualifier with Israel after breaking a toe against Toulouse.

Gerrard is keen to play at Wembley while Steve McClaren is desperate for The Reds' dynamo to feature in the must-win encounter.

However, Taylor does not approve of injections and believes Gerrard's long-term fitness may be put at risk.

"When you have got someone so special, you shouldn't take risks," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"I want anything for England to do well but I cannot approve of injections. What may be good in the short term you may regret in the long term.

"I am not being alarmist but we are dealing with a lot of cases when lads in their playing days had painkilling injections, with cortisone used too liberally, and it has damaged quite a few bones.

"Managers work in the short term but I would like to see it (jabbing Gerrard) from the health and safety aspect of the PFA."