Grip advocates return to 'simple' game

Keep it simple – that was the message from Sven Goran Eriksson's deputy, Tord Grip, as the pair put a makeshift England squad through a full-scale practice match on Ryman League territory yesterday.

Leaving himself open to the charge that England risk becoming a long-ball team, Grip urged the players at a national squad get-together to reflect on the manner of their World Cup victory over Argentina in June. "I think that was the best performance since Sven and I came to work for England," he said. "We have to get back to that, to be disciplined and play it simple.

"I think that's how we should play, even against countries like Slovakia, Macedonia and Liechtenstein [all in England's Euro 2004 qualifying group], because we need to play to our strengths."

For the 11-a-side work-out at Aylesbury United's ground, Eriksson deployed Steven Gerrard in what appeared to be his first-choice midfield quartet. The player's was publicly criticised last week by his manager at Liverpool, Gérard Houllier, who also dropped him from his team.

Michael Dawson, the Nottingham Forest central defender, was surprisingly called up to face Michael Owen and Emile Heskey in the "second" team less than 24 hours after he turned 19. The Yorkshireman, watched by a dozen Premiership clubs last Saturday, replaced Tottenham's Ledley King, who had been forced by illness to turn down the opportunity created by the unavailability of Rio Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate.

Dawson partnered Ugo Ehiogu in the "B" team, while Sol Campbell and Gareth Southgate took the senior berths. Les Reed, the Football Association's acting technical director, said: "Michael is excellent on the ball, has outstanding positional sense and is also a very mature young man."

Eriksson's captain, David Beckham, missed the training session due to injury, as did David Seaman, although both joined the squad as they attended a reception with the Queen at Buckingham Palace last night. Defending their three-day stay at a Hertfordshire health resort, Beckham said it was important for them to "bond".

Meanwhile, the FA last night denied "categorically" press reports that its finances were in crisis. After a meeting of its board, a statement reaffirmed "total support" for the £750m redevelopment of Wembley. However, where the proposed National Football Centre at Burton-upon-Trent was concerned, a review is planned to ensure the FA was in a position "to commit fully" to the £80m project.