Sven-Goran Eriksson insisted he had never avoided big decisions as a manager as he prepared to show his ruthless streak by leaving Rio Ferdinand out of England's World Cup qualifier against Austria.

Eriksson has not been exactly renowned for his decisiveness as England coach, appearing to rule by democracy rather than dictatorship, and often being criticised for his lack of strong leadership.

Indeed, some sceptics have questioned David Beckham's role in decision-making, while the England coach refused to drop Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard last month despite their loss of form and fitness.

However, Ferdinand seems set to pay the price for his lapses in concentration so far this season as Sol Campbell is poised to complete a resurgent return from injury to partner John Terry.

Eriksson would not confirm his starting line-up, although it is understood Ferdinand's intended exclusion will result in the first England side without any Manchester United players for almost six years.

The England coach - who is without Wayne Rooney due to suspension, while Gary Neville is out injured - has previously axed David James from the side after his mistakes in Austria last September.

He revealed: ''If you're not prepared to take difficult decisions, then you shouldn't be in the job. Especially you have to take difficult decisions when the team aren't performing - and we haven't performed well in the past three games.

''I put Roberto Baggio on the bench sometimes, which wasn't very popular among the fans at Fiorentina, and I also put Clarence Seedorf on the bench at Sampdoria as we didn't have the same opinion how we should play football.

''Many times as a manager you have to take difficult decisions and this is one of them.

''Whoever is left out will be surprised as they all think they should be on the pitch - maybe not together, they understand that - but no-one thinks he should sit on the bench.

''I understand that as you are maybe talking about the best three central defenders in the world.''

Eriksson spoke to Terry, Campbell and Ferdinand after training on Wednesday, but had already made his decision before the squad joined up - and did not alter it as the week progressed.

''I spoke to all three of them together and said that one of them wouldn't be happy at the end of the week, but that I wasn't prepared to change system,'' he said.

''Then you have to take a decision. All three of them are surprised if they are not playing and rightly so as they are so good that, for them, it's not acceptable not to play.

''But it's the job of every manager to change things if they're not going right.''

Not that the softly-spoken Swede is about to change character overnight.

''Being democratic is one of my strengths,'' he stressed. ''I prefer to listen to people. If players are not convinced about the way of playing, then they will never have a good game.

''If you want to come out with a message it is not always right to shout. People can speak in different ways, you don't need to shout.''

However, this move should at least shake off any complacency that may have crept into the squad, with a feeling growing that some players - Ferdinand previously included - were effectively guaranteed their places on reputation.

''We have to change things because the performances we have had this season are not acceptable,'' insisted Eriksson.

Other changes were enforced, with Jamie Carragher switching to left-back to replace the injured Ashley Cole, while Luke Young is set to continue at right-back due to Neville's injury.

The midfield nevertheless returns to its more accepted line-up, with Beckham shifting back to the right, Gerrard and Lampard - whose form has now improved - back in the centre and Joe Cole given another chance on the left.

Up front, meanwhile, Rooney's enforced absence, coupled with Michael Owen having recovered full fitness, means he should be partnered by Peter Crouch.

The Liverpool forward may not have scored in his eight appearances for his club since his £8m summer move to Anfield, but Eriksson is looking for the best combination of strikers.

''It's always good to score goals but maybe it's important the two up front complete each other,'' he argued.

The real challenge, however, is now facing Ferdinand. Rather than accepting his fate, he must prove the England coach wrong - and force him to make another big decision by dropping Campbell or Terry ahead of the World Cup finals.

* The last England side to have featured no Manchester United players in the starting line-up was picked by Kevin Keegan in a friendly against Belgium in October 1999. It was - Seaman, Guppy, Southgate, Keown, Adams, Dyer, Redknapp, Lampard, Ince, Shearer, Phillips.

ENGLAND TEAM

Campbell and Terry are ready to forge a partnership at the heart of England's defence with Rio Ferdinand - as expected - set to be the one to miss the World Cup qualifier against Austria.

Ferdinand is set to be on the bench for the first time since Sven-Goran Eriksson took charge of England in February 2001, with Luke Young and Jamie Carragher expected to replace the injured duo of Gary Neville and Ashley Cole at full-back.

With Wayne Rooney suspended, Peter Crouch is set to make his first competitive international start alongside fit-again Michael Owen, while David Beckham will revert to the right flank in a 4-4-2 formation, with Joe Cole on the left.

England (probable): Robinson, Young, Carragher, Campbell, Terry, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, J Cole, Owen,Crouch