With the injury to Michael Owen, England head coach Sven Goran Eriksson is having to make some adjustments to his squad for the game against Ecuador on Sunday, with Tottenham Hotspurs' Michael Carrick to start in a five-man midfield for The Three Lions.

This, along with Manchester United right-back Gary Neville’s injury, means that the team formation has to be changed and Spurs midfielder Michael Carrick has been given the nod to start the knockout match against Ecuador.

“I’m just looking forward to the game,” said the former West Ham star, who will be earning his seventh England cap on Sunday. “This is what you work towards your whole career, to play in a World Cup.

“For it to come around like this, in this stage of the competition when things are starting to get exciting, is a great thing to be a part of.

“You get frustrated when you are not playing because everything is going on and you can’t really do anything about it.

“You’re a footballer and you want to be playing football. Especially at this stage when you see the lads going out on the pitch and everything that surrounds the World Cup.

“When you are so close, to not get on the pitch is frustrating. You have to stick at it and train as hard as you can and hopefully you’ll be repaid for that. Now I have been so I want to take the chance and make the most of it."

Carrick, speaking to The FA.com continued: ”This is the biggest game of my career by far. There is not one that has come close to this one.

When asked if it was the biggest match of his life, the 24-year-old said: ‘The biggest I’ve played in so far? Probably the game for Spurs against West Ham at the end of the season because there was so much at stake,” said Carrick.

“But now obviously this is ten times bigger than that and everything I have dreamed of.

“I’m just looking forward to it really. I don’t tend to get too nervous. I haven’t in the past anyway. In terms of this game, who knows? Only time will tell. I’m just looking forward to it.

“It is everything that I have worked towards since I started playing football.

“I want to enjoy it and make the most of it. You don’t want to put too much pressure on yourself. It’s a great occasion but the be all and end all is that we’ve got to win the game. If we can do that then it will be even more enjoyable.

“I’ve got my family out here - my mum and dad, my fiancée, my brother. It’s a proud moment for them and just as proud for me. It’s great to have their support with me.”

England are expected to play a five-man midfield, with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and captain David Beckham.

Owen Hargreaves is expected to deputise for Gary Neville, with Wayne Rooney playing a lone striker role in the match on Sunday evening.