King certain to make England's World Cup squad

Latest Group C news ahead of the World Cup in South Africa which starts on June 11:

ENGLAND

Ledley King struggles to play two consecutive games because of his worn-out knee but his Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp believes the experienced central defender is a certainty to be included in England's World Cup squad.

King produced a typically smooth display in Tottenham's 1-0 defeat of Bolton Wanderers on Saturday but is touch and go for Wednesday's potential fourth-spot decider at Manchester City.

Nonetheless, Redknapp said: "He's a certainty to go to the World Cup. I spoke to Fabio Capello about six weeks ago. He kept asking 'how's Ledley, how's Ledley?'

"When Capello spoke to me he said he had six days between each game. I said it's not a problem then."

SLOVENIA

Midfielder Anton Zlogar boosted his hopes of making the World Cup squad after helping Omonia Nicosia to their 20th Cypriot league title and their first since 2003.

Zlogar has made no appearances for Slovenia in the qualifiers but lack of depth in the engine room may prompt coach Matjaz Kek to recall the 32-year old stalwart, or at least name him in the provisional squad.

Holding midfielder Valter Birsa had a good performance in Auxerre's 0-0 draw with Marseille, in their top-of-the-table Ligue 1 clash. Birsa will almost certainly be an automatic World Cup starter for Slovenia after an excellent season.

UNITED STATES

United States coach Bob Bradley has had nothing but bad luck on the injury front since his team qualified for the finals in October, but this week there was at last some good news from some of his sidelined players.

Key central defender Oguchi Onyewu, who has been out since knee surgery in October, returned to full training with AC Milan this week and should he get match-fit by the end of the month.

Added to that Bolton Wanderers midfielder Stuart Holden, who suffered a fractured fibula in early March, and Houston forward Brian Ching (hamstring) are both hoping to be back in action this weekend, which would strengthen their chances of making Bradley's final 22.

ALGERIA

Blackpool winger Hameur Bouazza will be given a chance to prove his fitness before the World Cup, coach Rabah Saadane told reporters at the weekend.

Bouazza has undergone treatment at a specialised medical facility in Qatar over the last week in an effort to speed up recovery.

Bouazza has groin, hip and knee complaints but the coach said they are not as serious as initially diagnosed and if he passes fitness tests at a training camp in Switzerland later this month, he would make the World Cup squad.