PAUL Gascoigne's hopes of putting on the England jersey and starting in today's historic match against the Golden Selection XI at the Hong Kong Stadium will depend on whether pain from a poisoned lump in his groin subsides this morning.
Gascoigne was struggling in yesterday's training session at the Hong Kong Stadium but he will be hoping to at least line up on the substitutes bench for the last of England's preparatory matches before they face the cauldron-like atmosphere expected at Euro 96.
The Glasgow Rangers star, who scored for England in their 3-0 victory over China in Beijing on Thursday and turns 29 tomorrow, was not named in Terry Venables' starting eleven after a blister on his foot on Thursday turned septic the following day.
David Davis, England's director of public affairs, confirmed Gascoigne's problem.
'We won't be able to know exactly the extent of the injury until tomorrow morning. I'm not a medical person but I can confirm he will not be starting in the game. Whether he plays as a sub is another matter.' England team manager Venables said: 'He got a big blister from the boots he wore in the game against China which wasn't too bad.
'But during the trip on the plane to Hong Kong, it became poisonous and has given him a lump in his groin. He was struggling yesterday but it's a little better today. If he feels fine in the morning I hope he'll be on the substitutes' bench. It's not a long-term problem.' Organisers are keeping their fingers crossed the enigmatic Geordie will make his debut at the Hong Kong Stadium. But even if Gazza doesn't make his eagerly-awaited appearance as arguably the biggest star attraction, there is no shortage of talent on display.
