The cross was painted as a joke by the England players, some of whom found Keegan’s constant introspection on the state of his health unsettling to team morale. For Keegan and Brooking, read Gary Neville and David Beckham.Although the injury Neville sustained against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday is not as serious as that afflicting his closest friend in football – his broken bone is on the fifth toe of his left foot and not the more important second – he has less time to recover before England take on Sweden in their opening World Cup match on 2 June.Eriksson will almost certainly gamble on Beckham’s fitness but it would be more of a risk to take a second player who might take no part in the group games. When preparing to face Paraguay earlier this month, Kieron Dyer was honest enough to admit that, if he had been in Beckham’s position, he would not expect to be taken to Japan and since he and other injury-prone players like Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard are certain to go, a second gamble on Neville looks a high-risk strategy.Eriksson, who was at Highbury rather than Old Trafford on Wednesday, said: “The injury is very unfortunate and I don’t know whether it is possible for Gary to be ready for the World Cup at this stage I have spoken to Manchester United and we will have to see. It is, of course, really bad luck, taking into account the fact that David Beckham suffered the same injury in the same competition.”Because of the nature of a defender’s game, Neville’s loss to England and United may be underestimated and, even if Beckham does recover, he will miss having his best friend behind him. “He forms the core of United’s team and England’s,” said Steve McClaren, his former coach at Old Trafford, who has worked with him as Eriksson’s assistant.”From the first day I arrived at Old Trafford during United’s treble season, I thought Gary was one of the most important people in the dressing-room, if not the most important,” he said.

“He gives Beckham space and the ball and helps enormously with David’s performances for Manchester United and England.”Should he fail to make the squad, Eriksson would miss Neville’s experience. The Swede will also be anxious because of the lack of match-fitness among his defenders. Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Campbell and Wes Brown, who began his career at Manchester United as a right-back, have all endured recent lay-offs.There is likely to be mixed emotions among the Neville family, since his younger brother, Phil will almost certainly go to Japan if Gary does not. Left in tears by Glenn Hoddle’s decision not to take him to the 1998 World Cup and portrayed as national villain for the tackle which conceded the fatal penalty against Romania that ensured England’s elimination from Euro 2000, he would welcome the chance for redemption.Neville Jnr has admitted he is unlikely to brush aside Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge for the left-back position and would be happy swapping flanks to the right, where he is more at home.

With 37 caps he is vastly more experienced than either Danny Mills or Jamie Carragher, who can boast four between them.Although Mills is likely to go to Japan despite a poor disciplinary record, Neville’s injury opens up possibilities for Carragher, who has distinguished himself for Liverpool at both right- and left-back, and Owen Hargreaves, the most interesting candidate of them all.Hargreaves has qualities which would please Eriksson. The quarter of an hour Hargreaves spent in defence in the confused closing moments against Paraguay may prove time very well spent.. Sergio Garcia justified his position as favourite in the first round of the Canaries Spanish Open here yesterday. The Spaniard’s five-under-par 67 took him to within a shot of the pace set by Denmark’s Soren Hansen and the former Ryder Cup player David Gilford.
Hansen established the course record with his 66, Garcia joining England’s Greg Owen and Germany’s Marcel Siem in joint third place. A 73 put the fancied Retief Goosen seven shots off the lead.The 22-year-old Spaniard is embroiled in a row with the tournament promoter Seve Ballesteros over his decision not to play in last week’s Seve Trophy in Ireland. But he appeared to have put that behind him as he produced some sparkling golf, with five birdies and no dropped shots.Ballesteros verged from the sublime to the ridiculous in his opening 75. The 45-year-old had an eagle, two birdies, five bogeys and a double-bogey seven on his closing hole.CANARIES SPANISH OPEN (Las Palmas): Leading first-round scores (GB or Ire unless stated): 66 S Hansen (Den), D Gilford 67 M Siem (Ger), S Garcia (Sp), G Owen, J Spence.

68 C Rodiles (Sp), C Suneson (Sp), C Pettersson (Swe), J Sandelin (Swe), E Canonica (It), R Muntz (Neth), G Orr, S P Webster, I Garbutt, S Little, R Gonzalez (Arg), M Roe. Selected: 69 R Cabrera (Sp), W Bennett, A Salto (Sp), K Ferrie, J M Carilles (Sp), A Oldcorn, M Pilkington, S Walker 70 I Poulter, G Brand Jnr, M Cort. 71 S Torrance, N Dougherty.72 A Coltart, J Rose.73 R Goosen (SA).. The born fighter in Juan Pablo Montoya spoke defiantly of his wish to take the challenge to Michael Schumacher but the Colombian’s body language betrayed a waning conviction. Montoya, the younger Schumacher’s team-mate at Williams-BMW, is a further three points adrift.It was not supposed to be like this.