Dyer winning his fitness battle

13 April 2012

Kieron Dyer could be fit to play in England's World Cup opener against Sweden on 2 June.

The Newcastle midfielder, who has a knee injury, is making excellent progress according to manager Bobby Robson. He said: "Our medical staff believe he is 10 days away from playing - that's playing, not training - and that wouldn't rule him out of England's plans.

"His knee looks fine and has improved dramatically. He is swimming and jogging and his knee is holding firm. He's not in discomfort and he's making excellent progress."

Dyer had been told he needed a miracle to make the tournament but could yet be named in England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's final squad on 21 May.

Robson said: "Now it's up to England to look at him and analyse the situation. I spoke to Sven and (Football Association chief executive) Adam Crozier and passed all that information on to them.

"They are going to try to get hold of our physios so they can make their assessment but our people are very optimistic and so is Kieron."

Meanwhile, David Beckham missed England's second day of training in Dubai today, although officials said he was still making "good progress" in his return to fitness.

The England captain, who yesterday was pictured for the first time running on his injured foot when he joined the rest of the team for training, was among three players who stayed behind at their hotel during today's session.

Paul Newman, the FA's director of communications, said Beckham, along with Nicky Butt and Sol Campbell, spent the morning working out in the hotel gym.

"Its nothing particular to worry about," he said.

"Its all part of this programme to get him fit under the supervision of the physios. He will be doing whatever is required to get him back to fitness for the first World Cup match on 2 June. It does not mean that he has to be here every day. As far as we are aware he is making good progress."

Butt, who was running with the rest of the team yesterday, is recovering from a knee injury while Campbell has had eight stitches after gashing his leg at the weekend.

Newman said: "There is no suggestion of any problem. There is no necessity to overtrain the players at this stage when the main work will begin next week."

Dyer will fly out from London on Friday night and join the rest of the team for their flight to Korea. Newman said decisions about his fitness will be made next week.

"Sven has always made the point that he would give Kieron as long as he could. They have made the judgment that it's worth giving Kieron every chance. But he has to prove his fitness."

In a statement on the FA's website, www.theFA.com, Eriksson warned: " The important thing for any player at a World Cup is to be 100 per cent fit."

Newman said the team spent today's training session "running around, exercising and kicking a football around, which I guess is what it's all about."

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