Eriksson takes the hard line on Lampard

Good form was rewarded, and bad behaviour punished, when Sven Goran Eriksson named his squad for Saturday's decisive World Cup qualifying tie against Greece at Old Trafford last night.

Teddy Sheringham, who has defied his 35 years with his performances since returning to Tottenham, has been recalled. Frank Lampard, who was included in the squad for the three previous matches this season, has been dropped. The £11m Chelsea midfielder was among five footballers who disgraced themselves at a Heathrow hotel last week. It would appear to be the first time since Rio Ferdinand's drink-driving offence cost him his chance to make his international debut in September 1997 that a player has been dropped from the England squad for off-field disciplinary reasons.

There is better news for a former West Ham team-mate, Trevor Sinclair, who is recalled. Whether he plays is another matter. First called up by Terry Venables in 1995, the 27-year-old has featured in eight previous squads without winning a cap. He is thought to have edged out Darren Anderton who, like Sheringham, has seen his career revive under Glenn Hoddle's management at White Hart Lane.

With Eriksson having problems at centre-half, Martin Keown returns from injury and Ugo Ehiogu is recalled. They replace Sol Campbell and Wes Brown. Also injured are two players involved in the impressive 2-0 victory over the Greeks in Athens in June, Michael Owen and Alan Smith, plus long-term absentees David James and Kieron Dyer.

Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves have been switched (or dropped, depending on your 'spin') to the Under-21 squad which must also defeat Greek opposition to progress. In their case, because of a different system, victory at Ewood Park would put them in a play-off despite their winning the group. Joe Cole is missing from that squad through injury and John Terry through suspension. As one of the 'Heathrow five' Terry might not have been selected anyway, though he is far more important to the junior squad than Lampard is to the senior.

Sheringham, who last played for Eriksson as a scoring substitute against Mexico in a May friendly at Derby, may well start for the first time in just under a year. With Robbie Fowler still struggling to convince Gérard Houllier he is fit in body and mind, Andrew Cole on the fringe at Old Trafford, and Emile Heskey still to convince at international level, Owen's hamstring injury has left a huge void. Sheringham, at the ground where he reached his peak, could fill in as a foil to Cole. The pair do not talk socially but do not need to on the pitch where at times they have seemed to have a telepathic understanding.

There was one late moment of panic for Eriksson. Having attended Craven Cottage for Fulham's noon kick-off with Chelsea he went to Soho Square to ponder his squad with one eye on the television coverage of Newcastle-Liverpool and Ipswich-Leeds. The Is were dotted, and most of the Ts crossed when, in the 90th minute of the latter match, Rio Ferdinand went down with an ankle injury. Having already lost Campbell and Brown, an injury to the Leeds centre-half would have been a serious blow but, to the Swede's relief, Ferdinand got to his feet and, after hobbling a few yards, successfully ran the injury off.

The squad will meet up at a hotel near Manchester tomorrow lunchtime before training at The Cliff, Manchester United's old training ground in Salford, in the afternoon. They have one session scheduled at Old Trafford, on Friday. The Greeks, who are expected to include Nikos Dabizas of Newcastle, and the former Leicester midfielder Theo Zagorakis, arrive on Thursday and will stay near Manchester Airport, training at Altrincham and Old Trafford.

England have played Greece eight times, winning seven. The cautionary note comes from the European Championship qualifier of 1983 when Bobby Robson's team were held to a goalless draw at Wembley. The dropped point ultimately cost them a place in the following summer's finals.

ENGLAND SQUAD

World Cup qualifier v Greece, Old Trafford, Saturday

Seaman (Arsenal), Martyn (Leeds), Wright (Arsenal); G Neville (Manchester Utd), P Neville (Manchester Utd), Ferdinand (Leeds), Mills (Leeds), Southgate (Middlesbrough), Ehiogu (Middlesbrough), Carragher (Liverpool), Keown (Arsenal), Ashley Cole (Arsenal); Beckham (Manchester Utd), Scholes (Manchester Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Barmby (Liverpool), McManaman (Real Madrid), Murphy (Liverpool), Sinclair (West Ham); Fowler (Liverpool), Heskey (Liverpool), Andy Cole (Manchester Utd), Sheringham (Tottenham).