Venables cautious on England role

The England assistant manager, Terry Venables, has revealed he was initially reluctant to become Steve McClaren's No 2.

Venables, who was national team coach himself for two and a half years until the end of Euro 96, was worried how he would react to not being in charge.

"I told Steve from day one that I didn't think I could do the job because it was going to be very frustrating for me," he said. "I had been a decision-maker for 30 years. He said to give it a go.

"I will be happy to do that for a period of time to see if we do get on. Basically, that's where we are now."

McClaren denied suggestions of a rift with Venables following October's European Championship qualifying defeat to Croatia, after which the two gave different reasons why Middlesbrough's Stewart Downing was dropped.

The West Bromwich midfielder Ronnie Wallwork was released from the Manchester Royal Infirmary yesterday following surgery to repair multiple stab wounds. Wallwork, who is on loan to Barnsley, suffered wounds to the hand, stomach and back in an attack at a Manchester bar just over a week ago.

The West Bromwich manager, Tony Mowbray said: "Ronnie is out of hospital and he is at home. It's a very positive sign. We envisage he will need some time to recover and some time with his family."