Wednesday 7th October 2009
Three Lions squad depleted
Fabio Capello's England squad were thrown into disarray with players from every position pulling out.
Robert Green was the only England goalkeeper training on the first day of preparations for the World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Belarus after Paul Robinson's withdrawal and David James being treated for a knock.
Robinson's hip injury led to Fabio Capello calling up Joe Hart, while Joleon Lescott misses the double-header with a calf problem he picked up in Manchester City's Barclays Premier League draw at Aston Villa and he has been replaced by Bolton's Gary Cahill.
West Ham goalkeeper Green has started the last five England games and has mounted a challenge for James' number one jersey, having taken advantage of the Portsmouth goalkeeper needing a shoulder operation and suffering a knee injury. Ben Foster's omission from the original squad was explained as a chest injury.
James and Ashley Cole were present at Arsenal's London Colney complex but received treatment for their knocks and are expected to train on Wednesday.
Capello's other 22 players trained, with Hart and Cahill travelling south to join their team-mates.
Hart has been rewarded for a solid start to his loan period at Birmingham from City, while Bolton centre-back Cahill is looking for his first England cap after travelling to Kazakhstan in June.
Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, meanwhile, will be back with Stuart Pearce's England Under-21s this week after being overlooked for senior duty due to a lack of match-fitness.
Walcott has only just returned from a side strain and Capello, despite the 20-year-old scoring against Blackburn on Sunday, opted not to recall him for the World Cup double-header, with England already qualified for South Africa.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was upset over Walcott playing for the Under-21s in the European Championships in the summer but was happy for his player to go on international duty this week and spoke to Pearce about a call-up for the qualifier against Macedonia on Friday.
"This is the perfect opportunity for the Under-21s to support the senior team," Pearce said. "I spoke with Arsene Wenger yesterday and we both agreed it would be right for Theo to come and join the squad."
Walcott replaces Sunderland's Lee Cattermole, who has a heel problem ruling him out of the Ricoh Arena clash.
Chelsea defender Sam Hutchinson was injured in Chelsea's reserve defeat to Arsenal on Monday night and will not join up with the squad.
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