England v Montenegro - Fifa World Cup qualifying Group H



  • Venue: Wembley Stadium

  • Date: Friday 11 October

  • Kick-off: 20:00 BST


Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio 5 live & live text on BBC Sport website



England boss Roy Hodgson has no new injury concerns for Friday's crucial World Cup qualifier against Montenegro.


Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole, 32, will miss the Wembley game because of a rib injury but no further problems have been picked up in training.


England boss Hodgson said he had also been impressed by Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge this week.


"It's nice to see Daniel Sturridge come into the squad and be so comfortable at an early stage," he said.



World Cup Qualifying Group H































































Played Won Points GD

England



8



4



16



+22



Ukraine



8



4



15



+15



Montenegro



8



4



15



+7



Poland



8



3



13



+9



Moldova



8



1



5



-11



San Marino



8



0



0



-42






"It's also nice to see him strike up a good relationship with the more senior players he's been partnering this week.


"It's not only the strikers I've been impressed by. The whole squad has had a very good week's training."


Sturridge could partner Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney on Friday night but Hodgson refused to confirm whether the pair would both play.


It is not yet clear whether Cole will be able to feature in England's last group game against Poland on 15 October.


The 32-year-old was hurt during Chelsea's 3-1 win at Norwich and has been replaced in Hodgson's squad by Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs.


Cole started England's last two World Cup qualifiers - a 0-0 draw with Ukraine on 10 September and a 4-0 win over Moldova four days earlier.


His absence means Everton's Leighton Baines, who has won 19 caps and scored in England's 5-0 win over Moldova last year, is likely to start against Montenegro.




Focus Forum: Keown and Shearer on England's big week



England are top of Group H with 16 points, one ahead of Ukraine and Montenegro, and need to win both matches at Wembley to guarantee World Cup qualification.


They must finish top of the group for automatic qualification for the 2014 finals in Brazil, while second place would mean a two-legged play-off in November.


Montenegro are expected to be without captain Mirko Vucinic, goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic, centre-back Marko Basa and midfielder Miodrag Pekovic because of injury.