Russia coach Guus Hiddink will go into their Euro2008 qualifier against England with his third-choice goalkeeper, Vyacheslav Malafeev.

Hiddink's hands are tied after an injury to first-choice Igor Akinfeyev and the dismissal of Vladimir Gabulov during Russia's 3-0 victory over Macedonia on Saturday.

Sidestepping the fact that Malafeev saved Aleksander Mitreski's subsequent spot-kick, Hiddink is reluctant to give Zenit St Petersburg's second-choice keeper his resounding support.

"He has had some problems," admitted Hiddink.