The England team doctor, Ian Beasley, is visiting the training grounds of several Premier League clubs this week to make a final check on the fitness of players before Fabio Capello names his provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup next Tuesday.
It is understood that the most significant stop-off of his tour will be at Carrington, Manchester United's training HQ, where he will ask for updates from the club's medical staff on Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Wes Brown, Gary Neville and Owen Hargreaves.
Although only the first two are "definites", Capello would like to have Brown's versatility at his disposal in South Africa, the very quality that still gives Hargreaves, who made his first appearance for United in 18 months on Sunday, a faint chance of making the training squad.
Beasley is also expected to visit Liverpool, to check on Glen Johnson, Tottenham, where he will ask for feedback on Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone and Ledley King, before taking a final look at Fulham's Bobby Zamora who has been struggling with an achilles injury for the past month.