Gerrard the key for nervous McClaren

 McClaren had vowed to do everything possible to get the Liverpool star fit, even if it meant giving him a pain-killing injection in his fractured toe.

 Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez had expressed concern at McClaren's determination to field Gerrard come what may, but the midfielder passed unscathed through a training session Wednesday.

 McClaren will, though, be without a host of other players. Forward Peter Crouch is suspended, while defenders Gary Neville and Sol Campbell, midfielder Frank Lampard and forward Wayne Rooney are all out injured.

 Midfielder Owen Hargreaves meanwhile tweaked a thigh in training Wednesday and is a slight doubt.

 "We've got a few injuries but there is still enough quality in the squad here to win the two games," insisted Manchester City defender Micah Richards, who is likely to step in for Neville at right-back.

 "There are proven people here and also good people have come into the squad like David Bentley, Ashley Young and Joleon Lescott. They can come in and do a good job if required."

   Nonetheless, preparations have been far from ideal for two games that will go a long way to determining whether England will qualify for the final stages of Euro 2008.

 With five games remaining, they lie fourth in the group, and dropping points against either Israel or Russia, who they face on Wednesday, will place their qualification in serious jeopardy.

 Israel have never beaten England, and their delight at the 0-0 draw they achieved when the sides met in Tel Aviv in March was evident, but Richards is determined not to underestimate them.

 "We must remember Israel are a good footballing side," he said. They get stuck in as well.

 "They don't make it easy for you to play. They make it very hard for you to play."

   While England's build-up focuses on one Liverpool midfielder, Israel's focuses on another, Yossi Benayoun.

 "If we win, it would be a result people would speak about for the next few years," he said.

 "I don't care whether people say we are negative or not negative - we drew with England in Israel 0-0, which was a great result for us, and I will be happy to defend again and finish with the same result."

DPA