WHEN it comes to taking gambles on your World Cup skipper, Bobby Robson definitely falls into the unlucky class.

The Newcastle United boss was England supremo at both Mexico 86 and Italia 90, and both times his Captain Marvel and namesake, Bryan Robson, limped his way into the finals - and out again.

Before Mexico, Robson senior was hoping his skipper's dislocated shoulder could hold up to the rigours of sport's greatest knockout competition, but unfortunately in the second game against Morocco it didn't.

And at Italia 90 it was an Achilles problem - picked up in the FA Cup Final replay against Crystal Palace - which ended the captain's campaign, again in the group stages.

On both occasions Robson junior was selected for the squad despite nursing injuries - both times, because, as Robson admitted: "He was worth the risk."

And Robson believes today's captain David Beckham falls into a similar category as a player worth gambling on.

"I'd take that risk (on Beckham) because he's so influential," said Robson.

"You'd have to put him in because he's a world-class player and to win the World Cup you need world-class players in your squad.

"I don't think there is any doubt that Sven will put David into the squad and hope he will be fit in eight weeks.

"He won't make too many exceptions but he might make one."

Although Robson sees it as a blow for the national team, he believes it could have been even worse.

"It's a mini-catastrophe for England," he said. "It's not a good time to happen but if it had of happened three weeks later it would been even worse. But at least it gives him a chance.

"Kieron (Dyer) played with a stress fracture and was back again in eight weeks.

"David's young and some players heal quicker than others. Some pick up and injury and can be fit two weeks earlier than anyone else. He'll have the best treatment in the world and I think he's got a great chance. I hope so because he's world-class.

"He's a matchwinner and he makes a difference. We can't afford to lose a player like him."

One thing Robson is hoping for is that Eriksson has more luck in Japan and South Korea, than he did at Mexico.

"I gambled (with Bryan Robson) but it didn't come off," he said. "Unfortunately his shoulder kept popping out.

"But he was worth the risk - he was our captain. He was a special player and he was worth the gamble.

"If I hadn't have taken him the outcry would have been 'Why didn't you gamble with him?'"

But if Beckham does suffer the same fate as Bryan Robson, the Newcastle manager has at his disposal a readymade replacement on the right side of England's midfield, in Kieron Dyer.

"He's over his injury," said Robson. "He'll get fitter, he'll get better because he hasn't had too much training. We pushed him in because our needs here were great, without giving him a two or three-week training spell.

"He's now trying to get match practice through playing. He's got the go-ahead from the specialist to play and by the end of the season, provided his foot is OK - and there's no reason why it shouldn't be - he'll be in great shape.

"He'll be in the best shape of anyone in the England team.