Dyer's Chance To Show His Worth?
By Nu Mad
Updated Wednesday, 6th June 2007
We all know Kieron Dyer loves playing for his country, and has offered to play at right-back ... something he refused to do at Newcastle under Sir Bobby Robson.
Robson knows playing a speedy winger at full-back can have a great effect on the counter-attack, and Glenn Roeder put it to good use last season with Nobby Solano.
Dyer refused to play there for Newcastle, even though he played right-back in his first ever full international for England. And it is thought manager Steve McClaren has called on him to add width from deep against Estonia.
He experimented with Dyer at right-back in training this week and he may be an option either as a substitute or if McClaren opts for an ultra-attacking line-up. Wayne Bridge is also fit after missing the draw against Brazil and it would be a surprise if he did not replace Reading's Nicky Shorey on the left of defence.
Defeat or even a draw would leave England perilously close to a failure to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals and McClaren insists he is not even contemplating the repercussions.
England were booed in their last qualifier against Andorra, and McClaren is fighting for his job.
McClaren: "I am more determined to get it right than anybody. What you have to do to answer your critics is by putting in performances, we have done that in the last two games.
"It hurt me that we didn't get the right results but we're aiming to put that right tonight.
"If we win it puts us in a good position, a position where our fortune is in our hands. I think we saw on Friday [against Brazil] that Wembley is our home. It was a fantastic atmosphere and there was an aura.
"It was a great game and the players got confidence from that. With four of our last five games at home we have got to be confident we can win them all."
