Readers of the Daily Mail or Daily Star, for example, will be greeted by the news that fears over Beckham missing the Euro 2004 qualifying showdown with Turkey have intensified.

Those perusing The Guardian, the Daily Telegraph or The Independent, however, will be told hopes are high that the England captain will be fit.

Rather surprisingly, it is left to The Sun to take the most realistic line, the tabloid simply reporting that Beckham himself has no idea whether he will be fit or not.

Beckham's problems pale into insignificance compared to the plight facing Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as his side take on Lokomotiv Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.

THE HEADLINES The Times: Wounded Arsenal short on reserves of strength The Daily Telegraph: Arsenal taste life without the big guns Daily Express: Wenger: Let's put it right Daily Mail: Gunners know it's do or die in Russia Daily Star: Weng: It's hit or bust Daily Mirror: It's all over (for Peter Reid) The Sun: Sorry we're full The Independent: Arsenal's challenge hampered by injury The Guardian: FA to take on rogue agents

"It was a bedraggled bunch, bruised and depleted physically as well as mentally, that left Luton airport for the Russian capital," reports The Times as it reflects on the absence of several top stars for a game Arsenal must win.

Leeds boss Peter Reid is also under pressure.

Depending on which paper you read, Reid has six games, two days or no time at all to save his job at Elland Road after a dismal start to the season.

What Reid would not give to be in Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri's shoes.

The Sun reports that Chelsea's cocky stars have cheekily told Brazilian star that Rivaldo there is no room for him at Stamford Bridge.

The Chelsea jokers apparently greeted Rivaldo's come-and-get-me plea to the Blues by pinning a message to the dressing room door reading: "Sorry, we're full."

Anyone hanging around near the England rugby team's dressing room is likely to get their collar felt, according to The Times.

The paper says England coach Clive Woodward is so worried about his rivals stealing the team's tactical secrets that he has called in the security services.

There are even rumours that the team hotel was swept for bugging devices this summer and players have apparently been briefed on the dangers they face from espionage in Australia.