Newcastle United star Kieron Dyer has to prove his fitness if he is to gain a place in the England World Cup squad.

Sven Goran Eriksson has made it clear he wishes Dyer to be in the team, but only if he is fit. Sven is also very cautious about getting the right balance of personalities in the squad. He doesn't want any "moaners".

Dyer must be fit for the Paraguay game and not have any niggling injuries if he is to make the World Cup deadline. Sven has gone on record as saying: "If he's fit and playing as he can, he will be in the squad."

Alternatively if Dyer cannot prove his fitness and does not make the Paraguay game due to injury, things will be very different. Sven will be unlikely to pick him under these circumstances.

"You can't pick players if you don't know if they are fit or not fit," said the England boss.

Dyer's season has been plagued with injury and Newcastle United have suffered because of it as well as the national squad. Bobby Robson has brought Dyer back into the squad slowly to ensure he can handle the pace and does not have a recurrence of the injury due to being rushed back too quickly. This will also aid his chances of healing well enough to play against Paraguay in April.

Dyer was one of Newcastle's few plus points in the FA Cup quarter final game against Arsenal last Saturday, although the team were well beaten 3-0, Dyer looked energetic and determined, with Sven Goran Eriksson in the crowd there was double the motivation. Sadly there has been a further injury scare on Dyer's fitness. Only time will tell if he will be fit enough to make the Paraguay game and inevitably the England World Cup squad this summer.

* Newcastle United are in talks to establish a Belgian soccer academy. It would appear that Luc Nilis, a former PSV player under Bobby Robson, is the main negotiator for the proposed academy. Nilis has also spoken to other clubs, Glasgow Rangers and Ipswich Town. There has been no formal agreement made as of yet.

* The club have arranged a pre-season friendly against the Saudi Arabian national side. The game will take place at Jeddah on July 19.

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