WHEN the FA turned to Sven-Goran Eriksson just under a year ago, there were plenty of dissenting voices, upset that he was not English.

But it is harder to find the critics now and Clarets boss Stan Ternent is one of those to have been won over.

And he believes that not only will England beat Greece tomorrow, they will go on and make a big impact in Japan and South Korea next summer.

"I have to be honest when Kevin Keegan resigned I would have liked to have seen an English manager appointed," he said.

"But there is no doubt I have been proved wrong so far. You have to say that the dramatic change in fortunes is down to one man and that is the new manager.

"The manager is the leader, he looks after his players and stands up for them when he has to. They are playing for him.

"If you have a good relationship with your players then they will play for the team, for the country and for you. It is a fantastic honour for any player to play for his country and a great responsibility.

"It is not easy being the international boss. Unlike at club level you have not always got your players about you, it is very different.

"I just hope that he goes on and finishes the job by making sure we qualify."

Ternent accepts that the 2-0 defeat of Albania proved that there are no easy games in international football but he still expects a home win.

"I do think that England will win the game," he said. "They have got a very good team, there is a good spirit in the squad and they are on a roll.

"They have got to make home advantage count and then they will win a qualify for the World Cup Finals in Japan and South Korea.

"If they do it will be fantastic for the whole game in this country and every club will benefit. I was a player when England won the World Cup in 1966 and you could feel the difference at the start of the next season.

"Everyone was buzzing and it was brilliant. If we can do well in the World Cup next year Burnley will certainly enjoy the feel-good factor."

The big question for Eriksson ahead of the match has been who should he play up front alongside Emile Heskey, who looks sure to start.

Ternent said: "With the match being played at Old Trafford I would probably go for Andy Cole.

"But he has also got Robbie Fowler and he could go with either of them, it should not matter. Everything is going really, really well, the players are enjoying themselves and they are scoring goals.

"When Kieron Dyer's fit I think they really will be a force to be reckoned with."