A round-up of all the major football stories in Monday's national newspapers, with Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, England, Fabio Capello, David Beckham, Rangers and Scotland in the headlines.
THE INDEPENDENT: Fabio Capello is considering dropping Liverpool's Steven Gerrard for Wednesday's vital World Cup qualifier away to Belarus.
THE SUN: Manchester United's Wayne Rooney was last night branded 'weak' by England's next World Cup oppone
nts Belarus.
DAILY MAIL: Fabio Capello will protect his England players from abuse by refusing to play February's proposed friendly against Spain at Real Madrid's Bernabeu stadium. Also: George Burley made no attempt to persuade Rangers striker Kris Boyd out of his shock international exile as the Scotland manager was left reeling from another stunning blow to his World Cup qualification campaign.
DAILY MIRROR: David Beckham last night jumped to the defence of Chelsea's Ashley Cole after the England defender was targeted by the Wembley boo-boys.
DAILY TELEGRAPH: John Terry undergoes a rigorous fitness test on his back today that will dictate whether the England captain boards tomorrow's plane to Belarus and could even shape the tactics planned for Minsk, Fabio Capello indicated yesterday.
THE GUARDIAN: John Terry's chances of returning to the England line-up for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier in Belarus hinge upon the captain being fit enough for a full training session today as he continues his rehabilitation from a back injury.
DAILY EXPRESS: Rio Ferdinand claims England will have one foot in the World Cup finals if they can complete their best start to a qualifying campaign for more than 30 years by beating Belarus.
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