THERE'S no better man to lead England to Euro 2004 glory than Sven-Goran Eriksson, according to Kieron Dyer.

And Newcastle United's midfield star, who hopes to be in the England squad after returning to action in the Magpies' final two Premiership games following a hamstring injury, is sure the Swede can bring the success the country craves in Portugal this summer.

Until recently there were real doubts over Eriksson's commitment to the cause. It was an open secret that he had spoken with Chelsea and that the club's billionaire owner Roman Abramovich wanted him to take over from the soon-to-be ousted Claudio Ranieri.

Tabloids ran almost daily updates on Eriksson's coming and goings, the final straw coming when an eagle-eyed photographer snapped the nation's silver-haired boss in deep conversation with the Blues' chief executive Peter Kenyon at the latter's London flat.

Just 24 hours later, at a hastily arranged Football Association press conference, Eriksson announced not that he was heading for the Kings Road, but rather he was staying put at Lancaster Gate, signing a new contract that took him up to 2008.

For Dyer the decision came as a great relief.

"He is a great manager," he said. "I think his record in competitive games for England is unbelievable.

"He has just lost the one and that was against the World Champions Brazil. So as for a man getting results there isn't anyone better."

As well as his off the field shenanigans, Eriksson has also come in for criticism for some of his tactics on the pitch, not least following the stale 1-0 friendly defeat in the coach's homeland at the end of March.

But Dyer, for one, thinks his critics have got it wrong.

"All the players love him and have got great respect for him as well," said the 25-year-old, adding that the contract extension came just at the right time. "We are just glad it's sorted out. There was a lot of uncertainty, even uncertainty whether he was going to be managing us in the summer, so I am glad it's all sorted and hopefully he can bring success now."

Dyer has played 20 times for England, starting seven games and coming off the bench a further 13 times.

His last game was as a substitute in the 1-1 draw with Portugal in February and he is keen to add to his caps this summer, and he cites Chelsea's Frank Lampard as the player to emulate if he is to earn a regular place in the starting 11.

"To be playing for England regularly you have to be on top of your game. You have to get your club form right before you can start thinking about internationals," he said. "When you are on top of your game for your club then England comes along, as you have seen with the progression of Frank Lampard this season. People were saying at the start of the year 'just get in the squad' now the way he is playing for Chelsea he is pushing for a place in the team. That's what you have to achieve."

Dyer believes England have nothing to fear from a group that features the current European champions and 1998 World Cup winners France along with Switzerland and Croatia.

England play France in the opening match of the tournament and Dyer believes that could be to England's benefit.

"They are the favourites and rightly so," he said of Jacques Santini's side. "I think we know how tough it's going to be but I think it's the perfect time to play France, first game.

"I think everyone is very cautious not to lose the first game and obviously you haven't reached your peak in the tournament. Hopefully we will get a good result against them and if we do both qualify it's a good thing that we wouldn't meet them again until the final. Hopefully, it will be a good thing them being in our group."

As for the other members of Group B, Dyer believes they are eminently beatable.

"We played Croatia earlier in the season and we won 3-1. They are a very good team, technically good, but we will be confident of beating them," he said.

"Switzerland, they overcame the Republic of Ireland in their (qualifying) group, but again I think we will be extremely confident of beating them as well."

As for what he thought of England's chances, Dyer answered with a smile: "For us to qualify with Switzerland or Croatia and France to get knocked out would be the perfect outcome but I can't see that happening.

"Just to qualify really, once you get to the knockout stage it's anyone's tournament."

* Kieron Dyer was speaking as part of Carlsberg's 'Your Country Needs You' campaign. Carlsberg is the official beer of the England Team and the company is urging everyone to unite behind the side this summer at the European Championships.