Terry a doubt for England's crucial Euro qualifiers

England will go five points clear of Russia in group E if they beat Estonia at Wembley on Saturday.

 That would leave them needing just two draws from their final two qualifiers, away to Russia on Wednesday and home to Croatia next month, to be sure of their place in the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.

 Morale has been boosted by impressive 3-0 wins against Israel and Russia last month, but with forward Emile Heskey - a key figure in those games - already absent with a broken metatarsal, McClaren can ill afford to be without Terry, particularly in Moscow.

 The Chelsea centre-back, already set to play in a mask after suffering a depressed fracture of the cheek-bone, missed the second part of training Wednesday after picking up a knee injury.

 McClaren admitted he had already been considering resting Terry on Saturday to protect him from a booking that would rule him out of the Russia match.

 "Leaving Terry out would be a massive call," McClaren said. "We must look at the bigger picture. We have a few players on bookings and we have to take that into account."

   Forward Michael Owen, though, looks like starting, despite having had surgery on his stomach a fortnight ago.

 He played 16 minutes as a substitute and scored for Newcastle against Everton in the Premier League last Sunday, and is confident he can manage two games in four days despite a series of injury problems.

 "I sat back and watched the first half of the qualifying campaign with itchy feet and a brace around my knee.

 "I have been wanting to get out there and it's great to have the chance to play. I am not one to mope but I do convince myself of things.

 "I just believe it will make me last longer or make me hungrier.

 "I genuinely believe that the form I've been in since my injury means that in a funny kind of way what has happened is a godsend."

   With Frank Lampard still struggling to reach full fitness following his thigh injury, Gareth Barry looks set to retain his place in midfield after fine performances against Israel and Russia.

 "Players like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard is why you have to wait for so long to have a chance to play for your country," the Aston Villa midfielder said.

 "There are great players in that central midfield role and the chances don't come around too often so, when they do come, you have to try and take them."

   Estonia, with no chance of qualifying in sixth place, have lost record scorer Andres Oper to a hamstring injury, while goalkeeper Mart Poom and centre-back Raio Piiroja are both doubtful.

DPA