Montenegro vs England Preview

Topics: Montenegro, England, World Cup qualifiers

The Three Lions will be looking to pick up maximum points on their visit to Montenegro in order to overtake the group leaders and move closer towards World Cup qualification.

England will be hoping to claim a crucial victory over Montenegro when the sides meet in Podgorica for Group H of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.

Having absolutely slaughtered San Marino on Friday, England will be in highly-confident mood, however, they must focus on the task ahead as Montenegro are no slouches, as in fact they lead the group and are on track to qualify for Brazil 2014.

Roy Hodgson, the coach of England, is expected to make a number of changes to the side that hammered San Marino, with Danny Welbeck, James Milner, Glen Johnson and Ashley Cole all candidates to come into the team.

According to reports Jermain Defoe, who notched up two goals against San Marino, as well as Ashley Young and Oxlade-Chamberlain will drop out of the starting eleven.

Captain Steven Gerrard, who was rested last week, will reinforce the England midfield alongside Michael Carrick, with Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney, who scored once against the Sammarinese, being provided with the lone striker role.

England will also have to deal with a lengthy injury list of no less than seven players, including Gary Cahill, Rio Ferdinand and Theo Walcott.

Branko Brnovic, the coach of Montenegro, is expected to field a close-to identical team as to the one that edged Moldova 1-0 last week. But one forced change will see Milorad Pekovic, who received his marching orders in Chisinau, be replaced by Mitar Novakovic.

Hapoel Tel Aviv defender Savo Pavicevic, who is also suspended for the clash, will likely be replaced by 31-year-old left back Vladimir Bozovic.

Montenegro, who will be looking for their fifth win in six World Cup qualifiers, will be hoping that Italian-based strikers Mirko Vucinic and Stevan Jovetic find themselves in good form, because their influence could determine the outcome of the game.

Brnovic, who praised the strikers in his pre-match media briefing, also controversially stated that England are "scared" after the visitors complained about the designated referee and the playing surface.