McClaren ponders Terry England gamble

Updated 13.43 Sat Oct 06 2007
Keywords: Premier League, John Terry, Champions League, Chelsea, Euro 2008, England, football, sport, Steve McClaren

Steve McClaren may gamble by leaving John Terry out of next Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia at Wembley.

McClaren is concerned that another booking for the England captain against Group E's minnows would rule him out of the trip to Russia four days later.

Steve McClaren is concerned that another booking for John Terry against Group E's minnows would rule him out of England's Euro 2008 qualifier in Russia four days later

Terry, who is playing with a protective mask after suffering a fractured cheekbone last weekend, takes a caution into England's latest qualifiers along with fellow defender Rio Ferdinand and Ashley Cole.

The England boss said: "It is a consideration. We have to look at the bigger picture as well as the smaller one. I have to take the bookings into account and ask myself do I want to risk losing someone?

"It means picking a team for Estonia is not an entirely straightforward issue, there are other factors involved as well."

After four successive 3-0 Group E wins, England find themselves three points behind leaders Croatia with just three games to go.

And McClaren added: "Our priority is to win and avoid dropping points at home as we did against Macedonia. If we do that, what happens in Russia is irrelevant."

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