Dyer named in England squad

By Matthew Jones
September 2 2002

Newcastle's super midfielder Kieron Dyer has been included in Sven Goran Eriksson's England squad to face Portugal on Saturday.

Newcastle midfielder Kieron Dyer has been included in Sven Goran Eriksson's England squad to face Portugal on Saturday.

Dyer was set to be left out of Monday's squad for the Villa Park clash as he is battling with a mystery virus.

Dyer has been laid low by the virus for the last month and will be given a weekend off to undergo tests and recharge his batteries, but Eriksson has picked him in his 20-man squad.

Although he has felt well below par between games in recent weeks, Dyer has raised himself on matchdays to perform superbly.

England squad: James (West Ham), Robinson (Leeds); Mills (Leeds), A Cole (Arsenal), Bridge (Southampton), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Southgate (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Leeds); Beckham (Man Utd), Butt (Man Utd), Dyer (Newcastle), Sinclair (West Ham), Murphy, Gerrard (both Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Bowyer (Leeds), J Cole (West Ham); Owen (Liverpool), Heskey (Liverpool), Smith (Leeds).