Eriksson insists there will be “no surprises” in his squad, with Jermain Defoe left to wait on Darius Vassell’s fitness after missing Aston Villa’s defeat at home to Manchester United today.

But the England coach’s main focus over recent weeks has been on his dwindling defensive resources.

He may have started the season with a formidable array of centre-backs, yet Rio Ferdinand and Jonathan Woodgate have since been ruled out.

Southgate had also been hoping to recover fitness in time to take part in his fifth consecutive major tournament after injuring his knee ligaments in training last month.

However, although the Boro defender is still hopeful of making a comeback, Eriksson seems to have all but given up hope in the 33-year-old’s powers of recovery.

The England coach does not name his final 23-man squad for the tournament until June 2, but the chances of Southgate featuring in his provisional party, which is named on Monday, are receding.

Asked if Southgate would be fit for Euro 2004, Eriksson told the BBC’s Football Focus programme: “I doubt it.

“He can’t start practising until the start of June, so that makes it difficult for him to get match-fit.”

With England’s first game against France on June 13, Eriksson could always name Southgate and put another player on standby, but he already looks to have turned his sights to alternative options.

Those do not seem to include Brown, whom he does not believe is back to his best after a cruciate ligament operation.

“After two bad injuries, he’s not the same player as he was before,” insisted the England coach.

With Matthew Upson and Ugo Ehiogu also thought to have fallen out of his plans, that would appear to leave King, who impressed on his senior debut in Portugal, and Carragher as the leading options.

“We thought when the season started, we were very well covered for central defenders, so it’s a pity,” admitted Eriksson.

“To find two others with the experience of Woodgate, Ferdinand and Southgate is impossible. So hopefully John Terry and Sol Campbell will stay fit.”

Otherwise, Eriksson has been encouraged by Kieron Dyer’s recovery from injury, taking part in Newcastle’s final two games of the season in qualifying for the UEFA Cup.

“It was good to see him on Wednesday and he played well,” added the Swede after the midfielder’s display at Southampton.

With Dyer, who can play as a second striker, therefore set to be included after coming through a full 90 minutes at Anfield today, Eriksson can afford to take just four strikers.

Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney are assured of their places, while the England coach has not lost faith in Emile Heskey.

“Physically he’s important for us. Every time he has played for England, he has done very well,” he said.

Eriksson must wait, however, before establishing whether Vassell will be fit to take up his place as England’s fourth striker.

The striker failed a fitness test ahead of Villa’s game against United and boss David O’Leary was unsure as to the Euro 2004 outlook.

In-form Defoe would seem to have the edge over Leeds’ Alan Smith if Vassell is ruled out, but the England coach does not have to make up his mind just yet.

He has nevertheless already concluded that he intends to keep faith with his midfield ’diamond’ in Portugal, with Steven Gerrard set to start on the left flank.

With Nicky Butt as the first-choice holding midfielder, and Paul Scholes and David Beckham certain of being picked, Frank Lampard could miss out on a starting role unless injuries intervene.

Eriksson added: “Gerrard could play anywhere in midfield.

“He would like to play in central midfield, where he plays for Liverpool, but in the friendlies against Japan and Iceland [on June 1 and June 5] I will probably use him on the left, in a diamond system, with David Beckham on the right.

“If we start like that, we can play our best four midfielders.”