Campbell confident despite Terry threat

"They've both played against Thierry Henry. They know all about him. They know he can go past you on either side so the key is not to allow yourself to get in a position where you're one-on-one with him.

"We've had injury problems in the squad and you have to overcome them. I'm pretty relaxed about it."

Campbell has played only once with Carragher - the first 45 minutes of Saturday's 6-1 win over Iceland - but is far more familiar with King's game.

They were, or course, team-mates at Tottenham before Campbell moved across North London to Arsenal, and they played together briefly in the 1-1 draw with Japan in Manchester last week.

With five caps - but only one start - King is the less experienced of the two. But he showed maturity and composure in the 1-1 draw in Portugal in February when he scored England's goal.

Both were once regular members of the England Under-21 team - Carragher has a record 27 caps - but at 26 the Liverpool defender is three years older than King and has a wider range of experience.

Michael Owen has no doubt that his Liverpool colleague is shrewd enough to cope with the menace of Henry. "Jamie is one of the most intelligent defenders I know," he said.

"You can ask him to play almost anywhere on the pitch and know that it would take him just a couple of seconds to settle in and do a good job.

"A lot of people think that centrehalf is his best position and I'd have no worries about playing him there. I know we've had a few problems with injuries at the back but I still think we have a fantastic defence."

Fantastic might be overstating it. In the 18 matches since the 2002 World Cup England have kept just four clean sheets. Compare that to the French, who haven't conceded a goal in their last 11 matches.

Henry, of course, scored a hat-trick against Liverpool at Highbury in April, leaving Carragher in his wake, sitting on the pitch, on one occasion.

King had more success playing against the elusive Frenchman, twice ensuring that the he failed to score against Tottenham during Arsenal's record-breaking run last season.

Phil Neville, meanwhile, believes that the competition to replace Terry highlights the strength in the England squad. Neville, who is likely to be on the substitutes' bench against France, said: "Everyone is after each other's places. There's two players for every position and the competition is high. That's why we have been getting such high-quality performances when it counts."

Eriksson would clearly prefer to face the French with his strongest team though he will not gamble with Terry's fitness. It's always unwise to rush the victim of a hamstring strain and, with two further qualifying matches ahead, the England coach may decide to save Terry for those clashes with Croatia and Switzerland.

As two nations progress from each qualifying group a victory over the French may not necessarily be a requirement. A draw would probably satisfy both coaches and Eriksson's line-up may reflect that thinking.

A defeat, though, would put England under pressure and that's why the Henry factor needs careful consideration. "He's taken striking to a new level," admitted Owen. "I don't think there's another player like him in the world."