IT WILL not cause a stir on the scale of axeing David Beckham, but Steve McClaren is ready to embark on the next stage of his quiet England revolution. The head coach is planning a switch to the 3-5-2 system not used by the national team for almost six years.

McClaren has expressed an eagerness to try different formations and, in that respect, he has a strong ally in Terry Venables, his assistant. England regularly chopped and changed during Euro 96, when Venables was in charge, and both men like to encourage tactical versatility.

The most pressing question is whether it will liberate or confuse the players, all of whom are used to a back four at club level. On Saturday, when England face the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in a European Championship qualifying tie at Old Trafford, it will provide a test not only of the adaptability of the players, but also of the organisation skills of the coaching team.

McClaren will hope that it helps to coax better form from Wayne Rooney, who has looked frustrated in recent Manchester United matches. The striker has been reassured that his place was never in doubt and he will start up front alongside Peter Crouch.

With Ashley Cole at left wing back, the obvious loser would be Stewart Downing, but he could not complain too strongly after moderate performances under McClaren. With Aaron Lennon injured, the winner would be Shaun Wright-Phillips or Phil Neville, the candidates on the right flank. Both may be given an opportunity, the former on Saturday and the latter if England need stiffening for the trip to Croatia next Wednesday.

The new formation was worked on during training yesterday and, while tactical systems might not stir great pub debates, the change would mark a significant development after the rigidity of the Sven- Göran Eriksson era. Only in the latter days of his reign did the Swede vary his favoured 4-4-2 and, when he did, it was often with calamitous results. The defeat by Northern Ireland involved the infamous experiment with Beck ham in the “quarterback” role and he tried a five-man midfield against Portugal in the World Cup quarter-final, when England lost on penalties.

While 4-4-2 may well remain the default option in the long term, McClaren and Venables believe that England must learn to switch quickly and efficiently between systems before the Euro 2008 finals. They also believe that the prevalence of talented centre backs, including Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate, makes it logical to try three central defenders against certain teams.

The change would involve a back three of Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry. From the right, the five-man midfield would be Wright-Phillips or Phil Neville, Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.

McClaren will hope that the number of bodies in midfield will overcome the fact that Carrick is not a tackler in the mould of Owen Hargreaves, but it is a small risk given that Macedonia’s best player, Goran Pandev, gave England some trouble in Skopje in his role between attack and midfield.

There are obvious dangers, not least the fact that the players are unaccustomed to it. McClaren talked at the start of his regime of wanting to ensure that they could produce their best club form for their country. “Square pegs in square holes,” he said, but he will be asking some of his squad to perform unfamiliar duties.

The system has not been employed since Peter Taylor used it for the 1-0 defeat by Italy in Turin in November 2000, his sole match in charge and the last before Eriksson arrived. With Saturday’s match already sold out, a full house will put it under close scrutiny.

How 3-5-2 can work for Steve Mclaren

At home 3-5-2 offers England attacking options. Ashley Cole could be to do what he does best - attack without fear of getting exposed. Sean Wright-Phillips on the other side would also supply pace out wide. The midfield trio would love the system: Michael Carrick has the passing range to pick out the wing-backs raids. Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard could play off Wayne Rooney and burst into the box. Rooney could drop off peter Crouch and interchange with lampard or Gerrard. Away from home, Phil or Gary Neville could play the right-wing-back role. The downside is that John Terry could get done for pace having to cover the left side and Lampard, Rooney and Gearrard must not cluster too much. Another benefit is that 3-5-2 could morph into 4-5-1, Cole going to left back and Rooney dropping into midfield.

PETER LANSLEY