Great Britain international Richard Alexander isn’t scared of much, but he is worried about picking up an injury that could wreck his Olympic dream.

Surbiton team-mate Matt Daly missed nearly two years of international action with knee and hamstring problems and has only just returned to action for Team GB.

Alexander, by contrast, has been a virtual ever-present in the squad, appearing at last year’s Commonwealth Games and World Cup.

The 29-year-old has made more than 150 appearances for England and Great Britain during the course of his career, but has a fear injury could rob him of a dream Olympic appearance on home turf.

“I am a bit of a pessimist and am always worried about getting injured. The thought of missing the Olympics is horrific,” he said.

“You don’t think about it in games, because you are doing all you can to win, but it is in training where you do think about it a bit more.

“Once you start getting a few knocks and whacks in training though you do start to think ‘Do I carry on or do I just sit this one out?’”

A fit-again Daly has notched four goals in four English Hockey League Premier Division clashes for Surbiton so far this season and was instrumental in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Reading.

The Kingston Grammar School teacher scored doubles against Hampstead & Westminster and Bowden, and Alexander believes his form is key for Team GB’s hopes of gold in 2012.

“Matt is always in good form when he is fit enough to play and that has been the problem,” he added.

“His pace and skill levels are way in excess of most players in this country and hopefully he can keep it going.

“With him firing on all cylinders for the Olympics and other players on top form, then gold next year is not out of the question.”

Alexander was in the British squad that won bronze at the EuroHockey Nations Championships this year after losing to hosts Germany in the semi-final.

Team GB won that crown in the build up to the Beijing Olympics, but he believes the team is streets ahead of where it was four years ago.

“When you look at the stats we actually played better than Germany, it just didn’t work out for us,” he added.

“We are already far, far in advance of where we were for Beijing. We are fourth in the world, so are going to be there or thereabouts. Home support could make the difference.”