Russians join plea for grass

England's prayers that they will not have to play their crucial European Championship qualifier in Russia on a plastic pitch could yet be answered.

Russia coach Guus Hiddink has added his voice to the growing clamour for a grass surface when the nations clash at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on October 17.

But if the combined pleas of Hiddink and the English FA do fall on deaf ears, Steve McClaren will ensure England are well prepared by lining up his old club Manchester United's artificial training facilities in the build-up to the fixture.

Hiddink chose the 85,000-capacity venue for its atmosphere. The artificial surface will be replaced by grass when the stadium hosts the Champions League final next May and Hiddink would also like the Russian FA to consider laying a natural surface before October.

He said: "A change of the pitch will be made and there is a desire that the change will be completed before the England match."

Russia general manager Joop Alberda added: "It's our last home match and Guus and I believe it's logical for the match to be played in the biggest and most comfortable Russian ground. It's nothing to do with the possibility of the English side being against it."