England and Spain seek feelgood factor

MANCHESTER, England, Feb 6 (Reuters) England and Spain meet for a friendly tomorrow with both sides badly in need of a confidence boost before next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Both managers are feeling the heat after a disappointing start to qualifying, though Steve McClaren has probably had an easier ride than his Spanish counterpart Luis Aragones.

England are third in Group E, a point behind Russia and three adrift of leaders Croatia after a bright start was followed by a 0-0 draw at home to Macedonia and a sobering 2-0 defeat in Croatia.

McClaren will be without several first-choice players at Old Trafford, with captain John Terry almost certain to be rested after a long injury absence and fellow defender Ashley Cole sidelined by knee ligament damage.

Jonathan Woodgate, back with England for the first time since March 2004, should replace Terry in central defence, while an injury on Monday to Cole's understudy Wayne Bridge means Gareth Barry or Jamie Carragher could deputise at left back.

Owen Hargreaves is also just back from long-term injury, with his slot as a holding midfielder likely to go to Michael Carrick.

The main conundrum facing McClaren is whether to go for 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 with Steven Gerrard, captain for the night, Frank Lampard and Carrick playing behind Aaron Lennon, Kieron Dyer and striker Wayne Rooney.

Rooney needs to shrug off a knock picked up in Manchester United's 4-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Should he come up short, lanky Peter Crouch could lead the line, feeding off the pace and trickery of Lennon and Dyer down the flanks.

MORE BITE McClaren is rightly trying to find a way of putting more bite into an England side who are unlikely to have Michael Owen back this season after his knee injury at the World Cup.

Though they will have no doubts about beating Andorra on March 28 in Barcelona, a defeat in Israel four days before that could have serious consequences.

The need for a feelgood factor has not been lost either on Aragones.

Fifth in Group F and nine points off leaders Sweden, who have played a game more, they have accumulated just one win and two defeats so far. They were also beaten 1-0 at home by Romania in a friendly last November -- while England drew 1-1 with the Netherlands in Amsterdam.

Another setback at Old Trafford would renew the calls from a hostile press for Aragones to pack his bags.

Former captain Raul has been left out for the third successive time, as Aragones recalled Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres and Valencia's Fernando Morientes as potential partners for David Villa up front.

In-form Morientes scored twice in a 3-1 win over Atletico on Saturday, and has netted nine league goals this season since his move from Liverpool.

With defenders Sergio Ramos and Carles Puyol suspended for Spain's next qualifier against Denmark, Sevilla centre back Javi Navarro and Celta Vigo right back Angel are likely to get a run out.

It will be Spain's first visit to England since they were beaten 3-0 in a friendly in 2001 in Sven-Goran Eriksson's first match in charge of England.

Fresher in the memory, for all the wrong reasons, was an impressive 1-0 victory for Spain in Madrid marred by fans' racist abuse of England's black players in November 2004.

Probable teams England: Paul Robinson; Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate, Jamie Carragher or Gareth Barry; Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick; Aaron Lennon, Wayne Rooney or Peter Crouch, Kieron Dyer.

Spain: Iker Casillas; Antonio Lopez, Pablo Ibanez, Javi Navarro, Angel; David Silva, Xavi or Andres Iniesta, David Albelda, Miguel Angel Angulo; David Villa, Fernando Torres or Fernando Morientes Referee: Michael Weiner (Germany) REUTERS SAM RN1451