WHILE Sven Goran Eriksson has been unable to emulate Sir Alf Ramsey's biggest achievement, the current England boss has managed to replicate his most famous formation.

Ramsey's 'wingless wonders' turned convention on its head when they won the World Cup in 1966 without an orthodox wide man on either side of the field.

Various formations have drifted into and out of fashion since, but Ramsey's successors have generally sought solace in a Peter Barnes or a Chris Waddle able to supply ammunition from the flank.

Eriksson has been different though and, since taking up his post in early 2001, the Swede has abandoned width in an attempt to polish his favoured diamond formation.

In part, he has been left with no choice.

England's chronic lack of a left-footed midfielder has been well documented, and has led to the likes of Ray Parlour, Kieron Dyer and Owen Hargreaves being pressed into service on that side of the field in the past.

But, on the opposite flank, Eriksson has encouraged David Beckham to drift infield at every opportunity, despite the England skipper's undoubted crossing ability.

The result has been mixed, with Beckham taking centre stage in 2001's vital World Cup qualifying draw with Greece but often cluttering an already congested central area and rendering England horribly predictable when they look to break from the deep.

Eriksson's preference for a narrow midfield has proved far from popular with England's fans, yet it has tended to mirror a general trend in the domestic game.

Graeme Souness declared wingers "redundant" earlier this year, while former Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier insisted that his side were better off without anyone hugging the Anfield touchline.

But, rather than becoming extinct, this season has proved that the Premiership's wide men are simply re-modelling themselves to become more in tune with the demands of the modern game.

Take one look at the top of the table, and you will see three teams who value width without constraining themselves with the inflexibility of a traditional winger.

Chelsea's title charge owes much to the strength of their back four but, at the other end of the field, the fluidity of Arjen Robben and Damien Duff has left opposition defenders trailing.

Both players line up out wide, but neither can be described as an out-and-out winger whose primary responsibility is to deliver crosses for their centre-forward.

The number of times either ghosts past the full-back to whip in a centre from the goalline can be counted on one hand.

Instead, they are more likely to drive inside in order to open up a route to goal or create space for their full-back to exploit.

Cristiano Ronaldo enjoys a similar role at Old Trafford and, while the Portugal international is more than capable of off-loading from the flank, he is at his most dangerous when he is taking a player on directly with the ball at his feet.

Arsenal use Robert Pires in the same way, with the Frenchman already having contributed 11 goals this season from what is, notionally at least, a starting point on the left wing.

The winger's role has changed and, by picking both Shaun Wright-Phillips and Stewart Downing in his squad for tomorrow's friendly with Holland, even Eriksson has recognised that narrowness is no longer an option.

Wright-Phillips fits the modern mould perfectly, with his spate of recent strikes underlining just how much of a threat he poses when he drifts between full-back and centre-half.

Downing's development has been down more traditional lines but, while the 20-year-old's primary strength remains his ability to cross the ball, recent months have proved just how versatile he could become.

With neither Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink nor Joseph-Desire Job being particularly effective in the air, Downing has been unable to simply sling a centre into the box in the hope that one of them will rise highest to meet it.

The youngster is already adding more and more strings to his bow, cutting infield to score goals like his last-minute leveller at Southampton or swapping positions with Bolo Zenden in an attempt to break down the opposition ranks.

By adding variety to his game, Downing has followed the lead of the Premiership's most effective wide men and earned his maiden England call-up as a result.

His crossing ability will continue to set him apart from anyone else in the squad but, with the likes of Michael Owen or Jermain Defoe lining up in attack, high hanging deliveries will be of limited use.

Charging runs infield might be far more dangerous though and, with Eriksson gradually showing a willingness to move away from a rigid 4-4-2 formation, Downing's introduction to the England fold could prove crucial in the run up to the 2006 World Cup.

Ramsey's 'wingless wonders' might have had a nice ring, but Eriksson's 'fluid flank men' could yet be just as effective.