England boss Fabio Capello is set to trim his squad on Saturday night ahead of the friendly against France in Paris on Wednesday evening.Capello will get a fitness update after eight Premier League games before reducing his pool from 30 to 23, with players facing a nervous wait over who gets the nod.

Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing and Portsmouth full-back Glen Johnson were among those to miss out last month for the friendly against Switzerland.

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor made the cut last time then cruelly picked up an injury the following day, while Peter Crouch played against the Swiss but has not scored a goal for Liverpool since.

Capello is expected to be at Stamford Bridge on 'Grand Slam Sunday' tomorrow to watch Chelsea's meeting with Arsenal - the final domestic game before England's friendly.

The squad will meet on Sunday evening ahead of the midweek clash at the Stade de France, with an announcement on the England manager's captain not anticipated until Tuesday at the earliest.

Franco Baldini, Capello's general manager in England's backroom staff, will be at Manchester United for the clash against Liverpool, the first match in a day when up to 13 players in the current squad could feature.

United defender Rio Ferdinand, one of the names suggested as a possible England skipper, has a back injury and is a doubt.

Just after his appointment in December, Capello watched the reverse fixtures of this weekend's clashes and was given a first-hand introduction to the intensity his players face.

John Terry, the captain under Steve McClaren, limped off at the Emirates Stadium with a broken foot and did not play again for two months.

Elsewhere in Capello's squad to face France, West Ham centre-back Matthew Upson is carrying a calf problem ahead of his side's clash against Everton at Goodison Park.

David Beckham will be hoping to be in the final squad as he looks to win his 100th England cap.

It would be the type of hectic week he will have to get accustomed to if he is to play a part in England's qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The midfielder could reach his century in Paris but will then travel back to America for the start of the Major League Soccer season three days later, with the Los Angeles Galaxy starting their campaign against the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

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