Soccer: Capello with decisions to make on midfield back ups

The World Cup is drawing ever closer - and that means international managers around the globe must start making tough decisions for their final squads.

England boss Fabio Capello is one of many managers who still have decisions to make and choosing which midfielders to take to South Africa will not be easy.

Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry seem to have secured the central midfield berths while the on-going saga surrounding the notion that Lampard and Steven Gerrard cannot play together centrally has prompted Capello to use Gerrard on the left. The trio of Lampard, Barry and Gerrard have all done enough to clinch starting roles when England begin their World Cup bid on June 12 against the USA.

The right wing remains somewhat unresolved, however. Capello has a number of options with Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon looking to be the man in possession as he holds off Theo Walcott and David Beckham. All three should make the final 23.

But things get trickier from here onwards. The Italian only really needs one reserve for the centre of midfield as he has Gerrard who could tuck inside if required. Michael Carrick seems to be the favourite but Shaun Wright-Phillips and Jermaine Jenas will be aiming to make a late push.

Owen Hargreaves is the biggest question mark. If he can recover from his string of injuries, he should make the trip. Hargreaves is England's best defensive midfielder and adds versatility in being capable of filling in at right back and right midfield. Time is running out, though, for him to convince Capello that he is free from the knee problems that have plagued him since mid 2008.

Another alternative for the left flank is also critical. Barry has a cultured left foot and could slide across but Capello will surely consider Joe Cole and the Aston Villa pair of Ashley Young and James Milner. All three are comfortable on the ball and can deliver a good cross from wide positions.

All this leaves Capello with food for thought but the signs point to an eight-man midfield group of Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Lennon, Walcott, Beckham, Carrick and, albeit debatably, Milner heading to South Africa next summer to chase World Cup glory.