Eriksson worried over England injuries before World Cup

BADEN-BADEN, Germany, Mar 15 (Reuters) England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson says he is concerned about the fitness of three of his key players ahead of the World Cup finals.

Arsenal defenders Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, along with Newcastle United striker Michael Owen, are all certainties to go to Germany if fit, but none are currently available.

''I have concerns about all of them, I would say, because we're in the middle of March and the season finishes for them at the beginning of May,'' Eriksson told reporters today.

Campbell, plagued by injury over the past year, made his latest comeback in a reserve match for his club yesterday but has not played first-team football since February 1.

Cole has only played once since October due to a broken foot, thigh injury and twisted ankle and Owen has not played since breaking a bone in his foot on December 31.

''I hope all of them will be on the pitch very soon,'' Eriksson said.

''Ashley Cole I spoke to twice recently and he thinks that in a couple of weeks he will be back in full training. But I haven't spoken to the medical staff, though, so I am not sure.

''Sol, I don't have any news about when he can start but he played in a reserve game yesterday and that's good, very good. And Owen is supposed to be returning very soon.'' Eriksson was speaking at the Buhlerhohe Schlosshotel, high in the mountains above Baden Baden in Germany, where England will be based during the World Cup.

''When you choose your hotel you need privacy, because otherwise it would be chaos, and we have that here,'' said the Swede.

REUTERS PDS KN2010