LONDON (AFP) -- England defender Micah Richards believes Steven Gerrard should take a painkilling injection to help get their side's Euro 2008 challenge back on track.

England coach Steve McClaren is hoping to select Gerrard and Owen Hargreaves at the heart of his midfield for Saturday's crucial qualifier at Wembley, even though both have been struggling with injuries.
Hargreaves is less than 100 percent fit as he recovers from knee tendonitis but the Manchester United star is certain to play, while Gerrard, who has a broken toe, may have to have a painkilling injection to feature.
Rafa Benitez has made it clear he does not want Gerrard's availability for the rest of the season put at risk, but such is the high-stakes nature of the match that McClaren is ready to upset the Liverpool manager.
Gerrard has not played since taking an injection to play in Liverpool's draw against Chelsea last month, but Richards admits it is a gamble the Anfield captain should take.
""Yes I could do that definitely, you've got to haven't you?"" Richards said. ""You do anything to play for your country.""
Hargreaves is equally convinced that his midfield colleague should play through the pain barrier.
""Sometimes you have to do things to be fit and play in games,"" he said. ""Football in general is a physical sport and I don't think anyone always plays football when they are 100 percent.
""The medical staff have worked really hard this week and hopefully if he is okay he will play.
""Any time you have a player of Steven Gerrard's ability he will be one of the most important players on the pitch. A healthy Stevie G is something the whole squad will benefit from. Hopefully he will be fit for Saturday.
""I just hope he plays. He has a broken toe. No one can really understand how sore that injury can be. Hopefully he is fit and hopefully he will help us get a result on Saturday.
""I have had some tendonitis in my knee which started towards the end of last season and it has gone on a bit longer than I expected.
""I did not look as though I was going to be fit for the beginning of the season. But I have played three games now and I feel very good.
""I hope I can play two games in a week. I have not played Saturday, Wednesday yet but we shall just have to see how it goes. It was not a problem for me before. Hopefully it won't be a problem now.""
If Gerrard does play he and Hargreaves should form more a fluid midfield combination than the Liverpool captain's partnership with Lampard.
However much Sven Goran Eriksson and McClaren protest otherwise, Gerrard and Lampard's similar styles have never dove-tailed well. Whereas the more defensive Hargreaves should allow Gerrard, or Michael Carrick in his absence, to get forward