English hearts were set a fluttering, and no doubt Sven was more than a little concerned, when news filtered back from Spain that the talismanic David Beckham had been injured playing for Real Madrid against Valencia and had been cast as doubtful for the Turkey showdown on October 11.
But Becks, who still managed to complete 90 minutes in the 2-0 defeat yesterday, didn't look too worried himself when he faced the media to explain the extent of the injury problem - a bruised foot from an incident when his studs caught in the turf as he took a free kick and landed heavily.
Although he is almost certainly out of Real's Champions League clash with Porto on Wednesday, the England skipper is quietly confident he'll be ready to take on the Turks, and maybe even play in the Spanish club's league game against Espanyol before the trip to Istanbul.
He said: "It's hard to tell...it's hurting at the moment and we'll have to wait and see. I've got a couple of days to recover - I hope it will be okay but I'm not sure.
"Turkey is two weeks away and we have got a couple of big games before then with Real so I will concentrate on those matches first and England afterwards. I'm not sure if I'll be fit for Wednesday, that's up to the doctors and me to decide."
As for the central midfield role he has been employed in at Real since his move in the summer, Becks says: "I have enjoyed playing in the middle at Madrid but as far as the national team is concerned I play more on the right and if that carries on, fine. But I am happy in the middle."
Having sampled life at their new Milton Keynes home on Saturday - when Wimbledon came back from two goals down to kick off with a well-deserved draw - Dons boss Stuart Murdoch wants the club to move lock, stock and barrel (Vinnie Jones reference intended).
There's still plenty of controversy surrounding the move from Selhurst Park and fans continue to fight the MK switch, but Murdoch says his players are happy at their new home and he wants to move to Milton Keynes to train too.
After the 2-2 draw against Burnley at the National Hockey Stadium, Murdoch said: "We will need to move up here and get the training ground up here. I don't know when that will be but it could come sooner rather than later.
"At the moment we are still training at our old place in south London with people pushing prams across the pitch!"
Leeds boss Peter Reid is still reeling from the 4-0 thrashing at Goodison Park and admits: "If we keep playing like this we are in for a very hard season and, yes, I am very worried."
Reid was damning in his assessment of yesterday's embarrassment at the hands of one of his former clubs and he added: "If you have not got the desire and you do not want to compete, then you are going to be in big trouble. There was no work or determination in our play, with or without the ball. You have to have that.
"Teams will be watching this and believe that if you out battle Leeds, you will win. We did not try against Everton, we did not turn up, we did not want to turn up. I have got no excuses and I cannot explain that performance. I feel sorry for the Leeds fans, they deserve better than that.
"If the players go out and have a right good go, and lose, then okay you have tried. Supporters will accept that. I do not want supporters to accept what went on out there, because I cannot accept it."
Arsene Wenger faces a massive selection dilemma ahead of tomorrow's Champions League clash with Lokomotiv Moscow because, in addition to being without Patrick Vieira and Freddie Ljungberg, the Sun reports that Sol Campbell will not be making the trip either.
The England international has decided not to fly out for the Group B clash following the death of his father and manager Wenger confirmed: "I told Sol he must do what he thinks is right after the death of his father and we have put no pressure on him at all."
Although Vieira and Ljungberg are definitely out, other injury victims Ashley Cole and Martin Keown will make the trip even though they are still considered doubtful. Young midfielder David Bentley, 19, has been called into the squad for Moscow.
