Shaun Wright-Phillips is being backed to start England’s opening match against USA in Rustenburg amid fears that James Milner will miss the Group C opener due to a viral complaint.

Milner, now 8/1 to start, is a doubt after missing the last three days of training with a stomach bug and Sky Bet have cut Wright-Phillips’ odds of starting to 7/2 (from 7/1). He has also been backed to be the first England player substituted and is now 8/1 (from 12/1). However, Aaron Lennon is expected to be selected ahead of Wright-Phillips and is 1/5 to start.

Joe Cole is looking increasingly likely to get the nod and the versatile Chelsea midfielder has been backed down to 1/8 (from 1/4) to get a starting berth.

The greatest doubt remains over who will be England’s number one on Saturday but it is Rob Green who is coming in for most support, leading Sky Bet to cut his odds of claiming the number one jersey to 4/7 (from 4/5). David James is 11/8 to start between the posts and Joe Hart is the outsider at 6/1.

Sky Bet’s football betting spokesman Mike Triffitt said: “With Milner a doubt, it seems a straight fight between Lennon and Wright-Phillips. Joe Cole has played himself into the starting eleven thanks to his recent performances and seems to be top of the pecking order to start alongside Gerrard and Lampard.”

To Start in First World Cup Game against USA
Cole J 1/8
King L 1/5
Lennon A 1/5
Green R 4/7
Heskey E 4/5
Crouch P evens
James D 11/8
Carrick M 5/2
Milner J 8/1
Upson M 5/1
Defoe J 5/1
Hart J 6/1
Carragher J 6/1
Wright Phillips S 7/1
Warnock S 12/1
Dawson M 12/1

Who will be England’s First Substitution
Lennon A 6/4
Heskey E 5/1
Crouch P 11/2
Cole J 11/2
King L 8/1
Wright Phillips S 12/1
Rooney W 12/1
Lampard F 14/1
Gerrard S 14/1
Defoe J 16/1
Carrick M 20/1
Cole A 20/1
James D 25/1
Green R 25/1
Carragher J 25/1

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