Just as the build-up to last month's key victories over Israel and Russia at Wembley was overshadowed by daily bulletins on the fitness of Steven Gerrard, so McClaren is now being pestered for information on Michael Owen and John Terry.

Although fears remain that McClaren will be without his star striker and his captain for the Estonia encounter on October 13 and the crucial trip to Moscow four days later, the situation is looking far rosier, especially as Terry will fly to Valencia with Chelsea tomorrow to test the suitability of a face mask to protect the cheekbone he fractured against Fulham at the weekend.

And, having remained resolute in his determination to get Gerrard onto the field last month, McClaren appears equally keen to utilise Terry and Owen next week.

However, just as with Gerrard, he is willing to offer both Avram Grant and Sam Allardyce assurances no undue risk will be taken.

"Sometimes you do have to be ruthless," he said.

"There are one or two players who played against Russia who had little knocks and injuries that maybe we wouldn't have risked normally.

"But because it was such a big game they risked it and we risked it.

"There are two weeks to the next game and there is still a lot of time.

"Nothing will be done without they say-so of the clubs or without liason with their medical teams but I name my squad on Friday and I would like those two players in it."

McClaren, who was speaking at the launch of the FA-backed Tesco Skills Roadshow in West Brom, does have options, with Sol Campbell and Jonathan Woodgate available as potential replacements for Terry, and the anticipated return of Dean Ashton providing some cover for Owen.

But clearly, McClaren would prefer to have Terry and Owen on hand for the Russia encounter in particular, which is likely to prove pivotal in the race to qualify from Group E.

"Of course they have to be fit and they have to be fit enough to contribute to us winning," he said.

"But we are playing for England and these are big games. Games these players I know really want to play in."

With Chelsea providing positive news on Terry, McClaren will hope the observations of the specialist who performed Owen's stomach-strengthening operation proves accurate.

"With this type of injury after 10 to 12, a maximum of 14 days, he is back into full activity," Dr Ulrike Muschaweck told Sky Sports News.

"He will start training today or tomorrow and every day do a little bit more, and after eight to 10 days he will make a full recovery."

Asked whether he would be able to play for England this month, Muschaweck, who carried out surgery aimed at strengthening Owen's stomach muscles to prevent a feared hernia, added: "I think so, yes.

"There is no problem to be expected after the operation, not at all." While McClaren has lost Emile Heskey from the two most recent of England's four successive Euro 2008 qualifying wins, and Frank Lampard, David Beckham and Gary Neville are not expected to be available either, Owen Hargreaves should be back.

So too should Ashton, who required two operations on the ankle he broke in training prior to McClaren's first match in charge, the friendly against Greece in August 2006.

The West Ham star may have drawn a blank against Arsenal on Saturday but three goals in his last four games for the Upton Park outfit represents a better return than any of his rivals, including Wayne Rooney, can manage.

And McClaren has left little doubt the 23-year-old former Crewe striker will be in the squad he unveils in the north-east on Friday.

"He has forced his way in," he said.

"It was very disappointing about the injury at the start of last season with England.

"I have been watching him from pre-season onwards and he certainly comes into consideration."