Bale’s pace prompts Capello into quick re-think as England look to cement Euro 2012 finals spot

The Three Lions can take a giant step towards securing their place at the Euro 2012 finals tonight with victory over Wales due to second-placed Montenegro being three points behind and having a vastly inferior goal difference,

If England do win then only a catastrophic defeat in Podgorica would be enough deny them a place at next year’s tournament, removing the need for Capello to take charge of another competitive fixture at Wembley before stepping down next summer.

The England manager is, therefore, keen to ensure there are no slip-ups tonight that could open the door to Montenegro and leave his team facing the possibility of a play-off qualifier in November.

Looking towards the visit of the Welsh and, in particular, the pace of Gareth Bale that will allow Gary Speed’s men to try to play on the break, Capello has hinted that he may break the unwritten rule of football – never change a winning team.

He said: “It is possible I will change the style.

“I watched the game they played against Montenegro. They played really well on the counter-attack and Bale is back on top form.

“After his injury he only played at 80 per cent of his capacity. Now he is really good.

“He is a really important player. He is so fast. It is difficult to stop him. We need to prepare something.”

With next month’s trip to Montenegro still to come, Capello was asked if he was tempted to leave out Gareth Barry and Scott Parker, the two defensive midfielders who are one booking away from a ban.

He said: “I don’t think about yellow cards and whether some players will miss the next game. It is step by step and Wales will be a tough game.”

One possible change for Capello tonight would be the inclusion of James Milner, the former Leeds United midfielder having long been considered to be one of the more defensively diligent members of the England squad.

Milner’s inclusion at the expense of Theo Walcott would provide Capello with someone who can switch from the right to the left of midfield and provide cover for the full-backs, no matter where Bale attempts to operate from.

One player unlikely to feature is Frank Lampard, the midfielder’s status as a squad man rather than one of the first picks being underlined in Bulgaria when he was only brought off the bench in the closing stages.

Capello said: “Frank is a really important player, like some players who are here and others, like (Jack) Wilshere and (Steven) Gerrard, who are not.

“I don’t know if he will play (tonight) but he is one of the leaders of this squad. And he still has an England future.”

The same is more obviously true of Jack Wilshere, who has been ruled out for at least two further months with an ankle injury he picked up against Switzerland in June.

It means the 19-year-old may only have the opportunity to play one international before Capello finalises his plans for Euro 2012, for which England will qualify by getting a point in Montenegro, no matter what the outcome of tonight’s game.

“I am concerned because he is an important player,” said Capello. “I hope he will be fit in a really short time for Arsenal and will be okay for the games that we play.

“He is an important English player.”

England will tonight look to claim a first win on home soil in a year, last September’s 4-0 hammering of Bulgaria in their Euro 2012 qualifier having been followed by defeat to France plus draws against Montenegro, Ghana and Switzerland.

Asked about the run, captain John Terry said: “It is not becoming a concern although it will be nice to change that sooner rather than later.”