Steve McClaren is facing a major Euro 2008 defensive headache after Rio Ferdinand and Michael Dawson were ruled out of next week's crucial trip to Estonia.
With Gary Neville, Ashley Cole, Jonathan Woodgate and Micah Richards already
missing, it leaves McClaren without three of his four first-choice defenders,
plus back up for both full-back positions, as Wayne Bridge is also a major doubt
for Friday's friendly with Brazil at Wembley.
Ferdinand has been struggling for some time to shake off the groin injury he
picked up in Manchester United's FA Cup semi-final win over Watford last month.
Although he was able to return for the Red Devil's successful title run-in and
complete the entire 120 minutes in the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea, the
29-year-old was not comfortable and after missing training yesterday, McClaren
accepted there was no point pushing the former West Ham skipper any more.
The same is also true of Dawson, who thought he had done enough in the England
B win over Albania in Burnley last Friday to force himself on to the bench in
Tallinn.
Instead, McClaren will be forced to play mix and match at the back, with
Liverpool's Jamie Carragher and Tottenham's Ledley King vying for the right to
partner skipper John Terry in central defence.
If Carragher gets the nod, Phil Neville is almost certain to step into the
right-back role.
And, while McClaren believes Bridge should have recovered from his hip problem
in time to face Estonia, the acute injury problems affecting the England camp
now make Reading's Nicky Shorey a virtual certainty to earn his first full cap
against Brazil.
For the England coach at least, the selection issues at the back overshadow
the return of former skipper David Beckham.
The former Manchester United star will win his 95th cap - and his first since
last summer's World Cup - in a familiar right-sided midfield role, with Steven
Gerrard set to partner Frank Lampard in the centre and Joe Cole on the left.
Like Beckham, Michael Owen will return to the international arena after a long
absence, with Alan Smith tipped to land the second striker's slot at the expense
of Peter Crouch.
