Beckham and Owen set for US trip
Real Madrid stars David Beckham and Michael Owen are set to join England for the last stage of their post-season trip to the United States.
But the Football Association insists that the duo are not under pressure to play in the matches against the USA on 28 May and Colombia on 31 May.
The timing of the tour led many to believe that England would take a second-string squad.
But the duo are keen to fly out after Real's final league match on 29 May.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson admitted that the timing was not ideal for the duo.
"They are due to come out one day and play the next, which is not the best thing in the world," he said.
"But they want to come. If they don't want to come, I will not pick them."
Meanwhile, Eriksson has hailed Alan Shearer as the best goalscorer in Europe in the past decade.
Shearer quit the England team following Euro 2000 - and after scoring 30 goals in 63 appearances.
"If you asked any football player or manager in Europe who has been the best goalscorer in the past 10 years, they would say Alan Shearer - absolutely," said Eriksson.
"He has still been scoring goals this season, he's clever, strong, not the tallest but one of the best headers of a ball in modern football."
Lampard & Terry set to miss tour
Chelsea captain John Terry has confirmed he is likely to miss England's tour of the United States.
Both he and Blues team-mate Frank Lampard need surgery on toe injuries and are likely to have the operations at the end of the season.
Terry said: "I've already spoken to Mr Eriksson about that, I've definitely got another operation in the summer."
Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad fly out on 24 May and will play the USA on 28 May and Colombia on 31 May.
Chelsea have already been crowned Premiership champions and are out of the Champions League so Terry and Lampard could have surgery immediately.
However, Terry is keen to play on until the end of the season.
"I've got to speak to the physios now so it might be a good time to get it done now," he said.
"We'll have to wait and see. I want to finish the season and hopefully I can do that but definitely straight after I'll have to go in for the op."
Liverpool's victory over Chelsea in their Champions League semi-final means Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard would have to join the England party late, if at all.
Several Premiership managers have expressed concerns about the tour, which comes after a gruelling season.
Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce wants winger Shaun Wright-Phillips to be rested, while Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has threatened not to release players.
Real Madrid's David Beckham and Michael Owen will definitely miss the first match because the Spanish league does not finish until 29 May.
Ferdinand backs England's US tour
Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has committed himself to England's tour of the United States.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has criticised the trip and threatened to withdraw his players.
But Ferdinand told BBC Radio Five Live: "I'll go on the trip. You want to play for your country, simple as that.
"The club pay your wages and if they make a decision, and the FA agree with it, then you stand back, but there is no doubt in my mind - I want to play."
Ferdinand has come in for criticism from Ferguson and United fans due to the delay over him signing a new contract with the club.
But he added: "It might be done before the end of the season. I am not keeping anyone guessing, we will just have to wait and see."
Ferdinand, 26, missed last summer's European Championships because of his eight-month suspension for a missed drugs test.
He is anxious not to sit out any more internationals and plans to be available for the games against the USA on 28 May in Chicago and Colombia three days later in New Jersey.
Chelsea captain John Terry and midfielder Frank Lampard look set to miss England's tour as they need surgery on toe injuries and are likely to have operations at the end of the season.
