I've been through Stevie G's injection dilemma many a time throughout my career

Internationals / Gary Speed / 07 September 2007 / Leave a Comment

Bolton's midfield dynamo on the decision to play Gerrard, Bellamy's new lease of life and how he will be spending his 38th birthday

It's made me smile to read all the debate this week about whether Steven Gerrard should or shouldn't have his toe injected to help him play for England tomorrow. I'm something of an expert on the subject at the moment!

I've played Bolton's last two games with an injection on my second toe that I've needed after getting a kick on it during the Newcastle game on the opening day of the season. Since then it's been really sore in training - not a problem when I'm running but quite painful kicking the ball. The medical staff said it would be safe to have a jab before the games, and to be honest I didn't feel a moment's pain during either of them. Saturday nights were a bit different, mind you! But I've been able to rest it and then train a bit this week and I'm hopeful that by next Saturday it will all be fine again.

Pain killing injections are an emotive issue, there's no doubt about it. You see old players hobbling about because of all the cortisone that got jabbed into them many years ago and it does make you wonder about the long term effects. In fact I bumped into Joe Royle struggling up the stairs on Saturday after our game with Everton because he has just had one of his knees replaced! Nobody in his right mind would put up with the sort of thing that players had to in those days.

Thankfully sports medicine has moved on a good deal and I think there's a lot less pressure put on players now to force themselves out onto the park with knee or groin injuries. People have begun to understand that there's more value in getting a player fit for months rather than risking that for the sake of one week.

But it still isn't easy when you're in a position like Stevie has been this week. You're torn between the fact that you desperately want to play in a big game yourself, but meanwhile your club are trying to persuade you not to turn out, and the international manager is determined that you will do. If England had a full squad it might be an easier decision, but with all the injuries they have got - and especially Frank Lampard missing - he would desperately want to be there.

To be honest as it's just a toe I can't see it being a problem. I think he'll have the jab and play, and there's not much else you can do to treat them. You can't put a toe in plaster, in fact you can't do anything with it except wait for it to get better. And as I say I speak as an expert!

Of course when it's the club manager trying to get you jabbed it's difficult again. That's when you have got to be strong and know what's best for yourself and your long term health. Do you want to miss one or two games or six months? There's certainly been plenty of times when I've had pain killing jabs and played, and one or two times I've said no. That's when you benefit if you are normally willing to play despite minor knocks because if you do refuse to go ahead you have more chance that the manager will understand and accept it. You get some players who will miss a game because they've got a bruised eyelash! Stevie Gerrard's definitely not one of them and I'm sure he'll be playing.

I'll be at Cardiff on Saturday watching Wales play Germany - I'm working for Sky. That's an odd way to spend my 38th birthday, but I've been fortunate that because Bolton have no games this week I've already had a few days off. We went out to our place in France with the boys for a few nights before they went back to school. I'm lucky that somebody in FIFA clearly knows my birthday after all these years and plans the international dates around it! I only wish that I'd had the foresight to get a dodgy birth certificate at the start of my career so I could convince everybody I'm still 29!

The Wales game will be interesting - and I'd suggest keeping an eye on the price for Craig Bellamy to score. The market has only just opened today but if it gets as high as 4 or even 5 I'd think that could be good value. Wales can't qualify now but that seems to have helped them in the last couple of games. They are playing without any fear, and have picked up two good results by drawing with the Czech Republic and then winning in Bulgaria. I'm still not sure in all honesty I could recommend backing them to beat the Germans - even though they've got injury problems and the price is as high as 9. But I do think Bellers will relish the occasion. Going to West Ham seems to be bringing the best from him at the moment.

As for England, the best bet appears to be to lay them keeping a clean sheet at 1.85. I can understand why it's an odds on bet, because Israel will set out with the idea of not conceding themselves, just as they did in their home game. But they can always be dangerous at set pieces, and have begun working the system to bring in players from other countries. Roberto Colautti from Argentina might be as much Israeli as Tony Cascarino used to be Irish, but he's got a terrific goals record with six in eight games. Meanwhile England have question marks over who plays in goal and are missing Gary Neville still.

Scotland's game against Lithuania will be more like an Edinburgh derby with all the Hearts players! You'd take the Scots to win, but it won't be easy. Have a look at 3.9 for there to be less than 1.5 goals in the game if you want some value.