Rooney set for England start
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson is poised to hand Everton's Wayne Rooney a starting role in the vital Euro 2004 qualifier in Turkey on Saturday.
Rooney is expected to partner Liverpool's Emile Heskey in attack as Eriksson attempts to compensate for the loss of injured Michael Owen.
The 17-year-old terrorised Turkey in England's 2-0 victory against Turkey in Sunderland in April and Eriksson is hoping for a repeat performance.
And despite doubts about how Rooney's fiery temperament will stand up to the hostile atmosphere inside Istanbul's Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, he is set to play.
Eriksson is also expected to pick Chelsea's John Terry as replacement for the controversially omitted Rio Ferdinand.
The England coach and captain David Beckham will hold a news conference in Istanbul at 1030 BST.
Eriksson and his 23-man squad landed at Ataturk airport at 1800 BST on Thursday amid tight security.
And despite pleas from the Football Association urging supporters not to travel, Turkish passport officials earlier turned back two England fans who were apparently hoping to see the game.
They arrived without Owen, who was finally ruled out with a shin injury.
Owen returned to Liverpool on Thursday morning to continue his rehabilitation after his shin injury failed to respond to treatment.
And he offered his England team-mates a good luck message ahead of Saturday's match.
"I'm obviously gutted I can't be out there playing for England but I'd like to wish the lads all the best luck on Saturday," he told the FA's official website.
Even when Owen joined up with the England squad on Tuesday, Owen was given only a 50-50 chance of playing.
He left the team hotel on Thursday morning to return to Merseyside for further treatment.
"After receiving treatment from our medical staff - who have been in consultation with the medical team at Liverpool - over the past three days, it was felt that, despite Michael making excellent progress, he would not be fit for Saturday's game," Bevington added.
Eriksson had anticipated Owen's withdrawal by calling up Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell as cover.