Kidd to quit, but Wilko will stay

Leeds coach Brian Kidd has quit his England job to concentrate on his club duties.

Kidd was appointed Leeds' first-team coach earlier this month and would have been involved with the England Under-21s for their clash with Finland at Barnsley on Friday but has now informed the Football Association of his decision.

Kidd said: "I want to concentrate on my new job at Elland Road. I have spoken to Howard Wilkinson and thanked him for permitting me to work with the Under-21s."

The FA have, however, today denied that Howard Wilkinson is about to relinquish his post as England Under-21 coach.

There has been speculation that Wilkinson, the FA's technical director, would no longer be in charge of England's young hopefuls and that the job would go to Nottingham Forest manager David Platt, but an FA spokesman said today: "As far as we are concerned, the situation remains the same."

Wilkinson took over responsibility for the Under-21s from Peter Taylor, who is now helping England's Swedish coach Sven-Goran Eriksson with the senior team.

Eriksson today admitted he was fortunate to be in charge of England at a time when many good young players were emerging.

"It's lucky for me that I have come at the right moment," he said.

Even so, Eriksson looks certain to include plenty of experience in his team for Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Finland at Anfield.

Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman will probably start if he has recovered from the back injury which kept him out of Sunday's Premiership game at Aston Villa, and win his 63rd cap.

Although Eriksson's defence is likely to include Charlton's Chris Powell or Arsenal's Ashley Cole at left-back, with one cap between them, his back four will still have plenty of international experience. Certain starters are Spurs' Sol Campbell at centre-back, with 38 caps, and Manchester United's Gary Neville, who has 42 caps, at right-back.

In midfield, Eriksson looks likely to stick with the experience of captain David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Real Madrid's Steve McManaman, who have 100 caps between them. They will probably be joined by Liverpool's young star Steven Gerrard.

Up front, the likely pairing of Michael Owen and Andy Cole are tried and trusted performers at Premiership level.

Eriksson has also appealed to the Anfield crowd not to barrack Beckham and his Manchester United team-mates on Saturday.

"I hope all the people coming to see the game will support England," he said.

"It's England that are playing on Saturday, not Manchester United or Liverpool."