Brown ready to grasp chance

Wes Brown was being tipped for great things by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson when he made his England debut six years ago, aged just 19.

The defender's career then began to unravel as he fell victim to a catalogue of injuries; two knee ligament operations that kept him out for nearly two years, a broken ankle on the opening day of the 2002-03 campaign and an Achilles injury that cost him the first two months of this season.

It will be hard for him not to dwell on what might have been if Sven-Goran Eriksson puts him into the heart of the England defence for tomorrow night's match against Holland.

Brown is likely to partner Liverpool's Jamie Carragher because of the injuries that have struck Eriksson's four first-choice centre backs - Sol Campbell, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Ledley King. Brown, who has played just six times for his country, recognises his elevation to the squad is based on the misfortune of others but it would be churlish to deny him a chance after the bad luck he's suffered in his career.

"I've never really established myself as a regular first-team player at United," he said.

"I've always been injured at crucial moments. Now it's more difficult than at any other time because the squad of defensive players are so good. The challenge is to keep working hard and to take the chances when they come my way."