Eriksson had seriously considered playing Ledley King as a left-back behind Ashley Cole but the crucial factor was the opposition, who employ a three-man defence.
Jenas's likely inclusion tonight remains surprising, however. The former Nottingham Forest player made his senior international debut as a substitute against Australia in February 2003 and has won seven caps in all.
He has yet to make the starting line-up and it is something of an opportunity to test a relatively inexperienced youngster in a game England should expect to win. Jenas has been showing signs of returning to top form this season and Eriksson, as he has demonstrated with Wayne Rooney, has never been slow to put a young player in his team if he is playing well.
But there could be extra pressure on Jenas tonight. Not only has he got to try to establish himself as a bona fide international in his own right but he will also be aware that many will be looking to see if his performance in tonight's World Cup qualifier here, is good enough to provide a credible alternative to Golden Balls.
Whatever your opinion on our captain's utterances however, the opportunity to judge an England team without him does not often present itself.
Since Eriksson began his reign as England coach back in February 2001, Beckham has missed only one of England's competitive matches, the 2-1 home victory over Slovakia in June 2003. Whenever he has been needed,
either before or since that date, the Real Madrid star has stepped up to the plate - up to now, that is.
As has happened in the past, all the fuss and bother surrounding Beckham has meant tonight's match, which with or without Beckham England should win comfortably, has been marginalised to little more than a sideshow.
Eriksson has watched tapes of Azerbaijan's World Cup qualifying matches against Wales and Northern Ireland which both ended in draws and has full reports from his scouts.
"They play three at the back," he said. "They work hard, they have good players who can keep the ball."
He may be right but England should win by a couple of goals tonight, against a team and a nation who will be disappointed and perplexed by our captain's temporary absence.
ENGLAND (probable): Robinson, G Neville, Ferdinand, Campbell, A Cole, Jenas, Butt, Lampard, Rooney, Defoe, Owen.
