Venables looks to Unsworth for starters

Glenn Moore on two of football's new breed of defenders who are set to take over from the stoppers

English central defenders have often been called "stoppers" - and with good reason. While the likes of Baresi, Koeman and Stielike patrolled foreign fields, a series of lumbering giants guarded English ones. Brave, strong, but limited.

However, this season has seen the emergence of a clutch of young defenders capable of starting attacks as well as halting them. The latest, and youngest, are David Unsworth, 21, and Gary Neville, 20. Both are likely to be involved as England open their Umbro Cup campaign against Japan at Wembley tomorrow.

Unsworth's broad shoulders came to prominence alongside those of the former England international, Dave Watson, as the pair underpinned Everton's escape from relegation and march to FA Cup success.

Neville slipped more quietly, but no less effectively, into the Manchester United defence as they pursued glory on all fronts. He played more than 20 matches and impressed, but the call-up was still a shock. He was on tour with United's Under-20 side in Switzerland at the time.

"It was a big surprise, I immediately called my dad to check I was not being wound up," he said at England's Bisham Abbey training camp this week. "I thought I would be with the Under-21s."

So did Unsworth, who was promoted from the junior squad, which plays Latvia on Wednesday at Burnley, when Tony Adams dropped out. He is now is in line to replace Gary Pallister, who has been ruled out of the game against Japan with a rib injury.

Neville is likely to be on the bench. It is, Neville admitted, "an amazing rise - a year ago I was playing in the Pontins League with Manchester United's reserves. At the start of the season I just aimed to get into the first-team squad and play a couple of games."

Instead he played league, European and FA Cup matches, including the final. "I don't find the games intimidating, or other players," he said. "You hear about players freezing and wonder how you will react when you walk up the tunnel, but it was not a problem."

When Steve Bruce was injured in the Cup final, Neville moved across from right-back to central defence with an ease rare among English defenders.

"I played at centre-half for the youth team and reserves, but before the season, the coaches got together and decided I was going to struggle physically at centre-half while I am young. I am not tall or experienced, so they tried me at right-back, but I prefer centre-half."

United also see Neville's long-term future in the centre - which might create an opening for his younger brother, Philip, who has also appeared in the Old Trafford first team.

Unsworth, with a frame that bears witness to four years of pumping iron, moved to the centre just over a year ago. The change was made by Mike Walker late in Everton's '94 relegation crisis and it may prove to be the former manager's most valuable legacy.

"I was at left-back in the reserves when Mike Walker switched me. I prefer it there, you are more involved - against Manchester United, for example, everything goes through Mark Hughes, so you are in an important role."

Strong in the tackle and quick in recovery, Unsworth, like Neville, also possesses a rare composure on the ball. He is likely to be paired with another ball-playing defender, John Scales of Liverpool, tomorrow. Scales is also uncapped, but Japan are unlikely to be a great attacking threat.

The problem may be breaking them down, and England were pleased to see Darren Anderton and Steve McManaman both back in training yesterday after niggling injuries.