Hoddle tips King for England role

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Former England coach Glenn Hoddle believes Ledley King has earned the right to be considered a serious option in the national team's midfield.

Tottenham defender King impressed in his holding midfielder role during England's 2-1 win against Poland.

"I think Ledley King playing in the midfield was wonderful," Hoddle told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I think he's a centre-half but we know he can play in that position, so I think he's done himself a lot of good."

England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson's first-choice midfield quartet remain Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the centre, with David Beckham on the right flank and, so far, Joe Cole on the left.

There's a good chance we'll have a good World Cup Glenn Hoddle

But, with Gerrard out injured for the side's final World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, King was deployed to impressive effect in a new-look midfield, allowing match-winner Lampard as much freedom as he enjoys at club level.

Wolves boss Hoddle, who took England to the second round at the 1998 World Cup, says that King might be England's surprise package at next year's tournament in Germany.

"I watched him off the ball quite a lot and some of the positions he was picking up," he added.

"In every World Cup there's always a player who comes from nowhere before every tournament - normally someone who gets in that you don't expect - and that happens all the time with England."

Hoddle also believes teenage star Wayne Rooney can inspire his team-mates at the World Cup next year in the same way Diego Maradona did when Argentina won the trophy in 1986.

Hoddle believes Rooney can lift England at Germany 2006

Rooney has been tipped to be one of the stars of the finals and Hoddle sees the Manchester United striker as having the same pivotal role in the team as Maradona or France playmaker Michel Platini.

"He's an extra special player. What he does is raise the standard - that's what Platini did for France and Maradona for Argentina.

"If you look at every team to win the World Cup they have an extra-special player who can lift the team.

"We had Bobby Charlton in 1966. A player who can lift us to another level."

Asked if England could win the World Cup, Hoddle replied: "They could - but if you pushed me I think Brazil will win. There's a good chance we'll have a good World Cup."

"I think Brazil are a class above, but apart from that, the group England have and the players we have is level with others."

Tottenham Dutch manager Martin Jol also believes England should be among the contenders to win the World Cup and have a better team than the Netherlands.

"I think if England play at the top of their game they are a better side (than Holland)," Jol said after the final round of World Cup qualifiers. "But they didn't do that and we did."

Holland cruised through the qualifiers, winning 10 and drawing two of 12 matches to finish five points clear of the Czech Republic, who they beat twice, in Group One, while England struggled in a stop-start campaign before topping Group Six.

"I think you can judge (the potential of the Dutch team) when they play against the likes of Argentina and Brazil and England because, like England, Holland did not play in the best group."

"Holland play in the same formation all the time. If England get the chance to do that I think they will be one of the contenders (to win the World Cup)."