England's beleaguered 2018 World Cup bid has been given a boost by a leading FIFA member saying the campaign is "headed in the right direction".

Mario Lefkaritis, from Cyprus, is one of the 24 members of FIFA's executive committee who will vote on the hosts of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Lefkaritis told Bloomberg: "The bidding people are very good. It's headed in the right direction.

"I met with the FA chairman (Lord) David Triesman and I think England is doing a good job. I don't know if a lot of others think the same but I think they're doing what they should do.

"With some countries you don't need a special message. When it's England I don't need information that I don't already know. I'm not going to advise England. They know what they need to do."

Another FIFA executive member, who asked not to be named, believes there is plenty of time to turn the bid around after a period of turmoil sparked by criticism by FIFA vice-president Jack Warner.

The FIFA member, who asked not to be named, said: "This is making much more of an impact in the UK than in other parts of the world but it is certainly not helping the cause.

"But it is still at an early stage and everything can change.

"For me the key for England's bid is to focus on the rest of Europe - a lot of it comes down to that. It's a big challenge but that's what they have to do."