The back pages are asking that familiar question again - will David Beckham play or won't he?

First it was his metatarsal bone, then it was his hand and now it is his groin that is straining England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson as he tries to line-up his midfield.

The Mirror ominously reports that Beckham has told his England team-mates that he does not think he will be fit in time for Saturday's crucial Euro 2004 qualifier against Macedonia.

The Daily Mail stays optimistic as it writes, "he should be fit to lead the side."

All the papers agree on one thing - that the Real Madrid player certainly did nothing to ease Eriksson's headache by missing his appointment with England's doctors after turning up late at the training base in Manchester.

The Sun headlines "Becks in England Row - FA chiefs in the dark as he goes AWOL."

While all the hype surrounds Beckham, Frank Lampard stakes his claim to a regular England spot across the sports pages.

The Daily Telegraph leads on a piece detailing how the Chelsea playmaker has come of age.

The Times agrees, stating Lampard has found the dynamism he needed to challenge the Premiership giants and quotes him saying, "I have been working to become the complete player."

THE HEADLINES Daily Telegraph: Lampard comes of age The Times: Vaughan voices his fears over England's test of endurance The Sun: Becks in England Row Daily Express: Please say you're fit Becks Daily Mirror: Missedonia - Becks tells England players: I fear I'm out Daily Mail: Better late than never for Becks Daily Star: Becks Late Show Rocks Sven The Guardian: Ferdinand's kidney leaves hole at back The Independent: Vaughan's reputation hangs on final Test

One man who desperately wants the 'complete player' to step forward is England's cricket captain Michael Vaughan.

The Yorkshire batsman gamely tries to win the pyschological battle ahead of the final Test against South Africa by promising a more gritty and spirited performance from his side at The Oval.

The Daily Mail headlines, "Vaughan vows to show more bottle," while The Sun quotes him insisting, "I believe we can really nail the South Africans."

The Mirror adds Andrew Flintoff's voice to the call to arms as they write he has urged his team-mates to finish the season with a final flourish to keep the public interested in cricket.

The Guardian is already looking further ahead, revealing that England are considering giving paceman James Anderson a rest during the early part of the winter schedule.

There is a bit of light relief in the papers as the Daily Telegraph reveals that Everton have emerged as surprise contenders to work with Hollywood's movie men on a triology entitled Goal.

The film will be about an American player who comes to ply his trade in the Premiership though the plot is unlikely to include USA captain Claudio Reyna's glamorous switch from Sunderland to Man City.