Phillips: Out in the cold (PhilCole/Allsport)

Sven Goran Eriksson named the Arsenal goalkeeper in his 26-man squad for Saturday's game at Anfield - but he also included Aston Villa's David James, Nigel Martyn of Leeds and Richard Wright of Ipswich after Highbury boss Arsene Wenger warned that Seaman is a major doubt.

Eriksson, who decided not to recall Gareth Southgate or Graeme Le Saux, dropped Ugo Ehiogu, Ray Parlour and Kevin Phillips from the players on duty against Spain in his first game last month.

The biggest worry last night was over Seaman, who had seemed certain to play against the Finns despite being left out of the opening match of Eriksson's reign.

Seaman pulled out of Arsenal's goalless draw at Aston Villa after reporting an inflammation in his lower back when he awoke yesterday, and Wenger admitted the 37-year-old had to be considered a major doubt.

Wenger said: 'David felt the problem in Munich on Wednesday but played and was OK. When he woke up, though, he felt it again and couldn't play.

'That was why he was not involved. I care about England, but not as much as I do about Arsenal.

'I spoke to Eriksson's assistant Tord Grip before the game and told him that if England needed him, he wasn't definitely out.

'I can't say that he will be out but England will have to check how he is in the next 48 hours. If it's not better in two or three

'I'm optimistic for him. But we don't know how long the problem will last. There has to be a doubt.'

The decision to include a fourth goalkeeper in the squad demonstrates Eriksson's concerns over Seaman.

Had he not been lined up to start the game, there would have been no need to bring in the extra player.

As well as signalling there is no way back for the old guard - Dennis Wise and Paul Ince - Eriksson's squad will bring dismay for Southgate and Le Saux.

There will be bitter disappointment, too, for Phillips and Parlour, scorer of 'the goal that never was' in the 0-0 draw in Helsinki in October - a 20-yard shot that hit the bar and crossed the line but was not awarded.

The other missing men were the injured Kieron Dyer of Newcastle and Nick Barmby of Liverpool, and Everton' s Michael Ball, who was named in the Under 21 squad on Friday.

Only Liverpool's Steven Gerrard was added to the names used last time. Like Southgate, Le Saux has only just returned from injury, but both had hoped their experience would be grasped by Eriksson.

Southgate's omission can only reinforce his desire to leave Villa Park.

Phillips and Ehiogu have also suffered from a lack of recent Premiership action, although they are paying the price for domestic bans.

Sunderland striker Phillips scored at Chelsea on Saturday after a three-match ban, while Ehiogu, scorer of the third goal in the win over Spain, has not played for Middlesbrough since because of a four-match suspension.