Taxi for McClaren?

England face two crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers at Wembley next month which could possibly spell the end of the Steve McClaren regime.

England entertain Israel at Wembley on Saturday 8 September and then host Russia four days later.

Though Michael Owen, and his X Boot III, returned to scoring form in Newcastle’s League Cup game against Barnsley, Wayne Rooney remains doubtful following the metatarsal injury he picked up, whilst wearing his Nike Total 90 Lasers, on the opening weekend of the season against Reading.

Further bad news for McClaren occurred last night when David Beckham, sporting his Adidas Predator Absolute Globe football boots, suffered a knee injury whilst playing in LA Galaxy’s Superliga match against Pachuca. Beckham’s latest injury has effectively ruled him out of next month’s qualifiers, meaning that should McClaren’s men fail to qualify for next summers championships it could mean the that “Golden Balls” hangs up his football boots short of his 100th international cap.

With Kieron Dyer suffering a double fracture to his lower leg on Tuesday night against Bristol Rovers, the West Ham man, and his Adidas Tunit 2 football boots, have joined the growing casualty list, severely reducing England’s attacking options.

Steve McClaren, who has looked far from convincing so far as England manager, will be wishing he could wrap the rest of the England players up in cotton wool ahead of next month.

McClaren may have to rely on midfielders, and Adidas Predator Absolute wearers, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard, to feed fit again Michael Owen, whilst taking on the responsibility to weigh in with goals themselves. One of McClaren’s surprise weapons could be utilising a fresh Peter Crouch (Puma v.106), who scored in Liverpool’s 4-0 demolition of Toulouse in midweek, but is likely to play a bit part role at Anfield this season.

It will be interesting to see whether next month’s Euro qualifiers provide a stay of execution for the England boss, or will it be Taxi for McClaren?