BLACKBURN boss Graeme Souness today urged England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson to take David Dunn to this summer's World Cup if David Beckham fails to overcome his heartbreaking injury.

England skipper Beckham's World Cup dream is now hanging by a thread after the mercurial winger broke a bone in his foot during Manchester United's Champions' League quarter-final triumph over Deportivo La Coruna last night.

Beckham looks certain to miss the rest of the season, and there is a fear he will not be fit in time to lead England's World Cup bid in Japan.

If he misses out, it will come as a shattering blow to Eriksson's masterplan but Souness believes Rovers midfielder Dunn could be the man to come to England's international rescue, even though he has yet to be tried and tested at that level.

"He is very different to David Beckham, but I am his manager and I am not going to say "No, he shouldn't go,"' said Souness.

"But I know David Dunn will play for England, whether it is this World Cup or the next World Cup - he will be a World Cup player for England.

"I would suggest I have seen a change in David in the last couple of months. He is now less likely to try schoolyard stuff. He has learned not to be a tricky trickster.

"He has learned to be a proper midfield player and, if I was Sven, I would give him a go because he has certainly got the ability in the last third of the field that very few players have.

"He has natural strength, he can get up and down the park and he can pass a ball accurately.

"But what he has, and I can't think of another England midfield player, is in that last third he can take people on and make things happen.

"So, yes, Sven should take him."

Eriksson had hinted at a possible call-up for Dunn ahead of England's recent friendlies against Holland and Italy but injuries meant he could not be considered for selection.

However, he may now get the chance to showcase his talents against Paraguay at Anfield next week as the countdown to the finals in June begins in earnest.