Roy Hodgson admits he will be biting his nails along with the rest of the nation on Tuesday night as England attempt to book their place at next year’s World Cup.

“I am a worrier. I still feel the tension and focus,” said Hodgson, whose side need to defeat Poland at Wembley to avoid finishing second in Group H and the prospect of a tricky play-off.

“It’s not that you are worried the team is not capable, it’s just that you are worried something untoward might happen.”

With group rivals Ukraine likely to defeat San Marino, Hodgson knows that England must beat the Poles in order to dodge the bullet of a possible match-up with a host of quality second-placed teams.

History, too, will weigh heavily on English minds. Nearly 40 years ago Poland shocked England at Wembley, drawing 1-1 to deny Alf Ramsey’s side a place at the 1974 World Cup.

As many as 20,000 Polish supporters will be at the famous stadium on Tuesday hoping to see a repeat of that suprise result, even if their team cannot qualify for Brazil after they lost to Ukraine last Friday.

Poland’s hero of 1973, goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski, has already been talking up his side’s chances and says they have nothing to lose.

Their manager Waldemar Fornalik is expected to face the sack after the game come what may, adding to the visitors’ sense of abandon heading into the game.

Hodgson, whose side battered Montenegro 4-1 on Friday, nonetheless believes his players have form on their side.

“I have great faith and trust in the players,” Hodgson said. “I don’t think I can be putting a stronger bunch of players, a more confident bunch of players, onto the field. I won’t be particularly satisfied if we don’t win and know that we go in to the play-offs.

“The attitude will be one of — this is our game, our stadium, these are our fans, we are a good team and we are going to win.”

Hodgson said he would not make “massive changes” to the starting XI that was so impressive against Montenegro, but he will be compelled to make one alteration because of right-back Kyle Walker’s suspension.

Phil Jones or Chris Smalling, both of Manchester United, are contenders for a starting berth.

Andros Townsend, who scored a fantastic solo goal on his England debut against Montenegro, has picked up an injury, but Hodgson still expects him to be fit and the England manager could go with an unchanged team, save for Walker.