Ukraine are formidable opponents having gone unbeaten in eight matches, winning seven of these. Mykhaylo Fomenko’s side have gained momentum ahead of Tuesday’s match with away victories against Group H rivals Poland (3-1) then Montenegro (4-0) since his appointment.

The home side’s main attacking threat from open play comes from their wide forwards Yevhen Konoplyanka on the left and Andriy Yarmolenko on the right, each of whom look to cut inside and move the ball onto their stronger foot.

The two could play either side of versatile support forward Roman Zozulya and a hard-working striker, either Marko Devic or Yevhen Seleznyov. If the hosts limit their attacking ambition a third central midfielder could be named with only one up front.

Experienced anchor man Anatoliy Tymoshchuk was partnered by Edmar in Friday’s 9-0 demolition of San Marino. Denys Harmash is out through injury, but holder Taras Stepanenko or the versatile Ruslan Rotan are other options.

The home side attack through the wide forwards and of the two, Konoplyanka is quicker to cut inside and gave his side the lead with a powerful strike the last time England stood off him, but he also possesses excellent close control and offers the prospect of combinations with his Dnipro teammate Zozulya.

England’s centre-back pairing have rarely played together, while Kyle Walker’s focus has been diverted away from the pitch, and both their concentration and protection from midfield will be required to prevent Konoplyanka from picking up the ball in space and finding a teammate in the box.

The powerful Yarmolenko however poses the greater goal threat of the two, having struck double figures in his past three seasons at Dynamo Kiev, and has the finishing ability and power to break into the penalty area if left one-on-one against a defence dragged out of position. Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge’s injuries and Danny Welbeck suspension undoubtedly hurt the England attack but James Milner’s defensive work-rate will help double up on him.

England currently top the group with two home games left and a point would see Ukraine take second place due to their superior goal difference and head-to-head record against Montenegro. Ahead of a group-deciding penultimate round that sees the pair host Montenegro and Poland respectively, each side appears to lose more in defeat than gain in victory.

If either side show ambition however, the hosts defence appear more vulnerable when dealing with pace on the counter-attack.

Giant centre-back Yevhen Khacheridi poses a threat from set pieces but is slow on the turn, though Yaroslav Rakitskiy is more mobile. Left-back Vyacheslav Shevchuk only became first choice at Shakhtar Donetsk following the departure of Razvan Rat offers and offers a comparatively minor in attack – he has often been replaced by versatile midfielder Oleh Husyev for that purpose.

Three Lions’ target-man Rickie Lambert demands attention when he drops back to link up play as has the passing range to pose a threat. If he can drag either centre-back out of position, space will open up for the pacey Theo Walcott to run at goal ahead of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Jack Wilshere, each capable of through balls.

Tymoshchuk would hope to have sufficient positional awareness to prevent this threat, but Walcott’s recent positioning alongside Olivier Giroud at Arsenal gives him increased familiarity with this situation.

Again in a daunting away fixture in Eastern Europe against an on-form side shortly after the start of the season, the stage could be set for arguably the fastest player in the world to match his stunning hat-trick against Croatia in 2008.

Croatia’s attacking midfielders had been on form and the Slaven Bilic’s side had gone nine matches unbeaten in normal time, inflicting two defeats against the Three Lions with Steve McLaren at the helm.

Then, as now, an aging former Bayern Munich player in Niko Kovac (then 36, with Tymoshchuk currently 34) was required to hold in midfield behind a set of heralded attackers, but his defence proved unable to cope with the Arsenal youngster’s pace.

While many of the England’s attacking options are unavailable, in Walcott’s pace Roy Hodgson may still possess the weapon needed to pick apart the home side just as they threaten to upset the Three Lions.