Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick will miss England’s friendlies against Chile and Germany after aggravating an achilles injury.
Carrick had already admitted he had to be ‘patched up’ to face Arsenal last Sunday but will now return to United after admitting defeat in his efforts to get fit.
Carrick will join United team mate Danny Welbeck, who has a knee injury, on the England sidelines.
England manager Roy Hodgson has been struck by a series of other injury blows to his England plans with Tottenham full back Kyle Walker missing training with a minor injury unlikely to face Chile on Friday.
Captain Steven Gerrard will also miss the game against Chile after aggravating a hip injury in Liverpool’s win against Fulham. Vice captain Frank Lampard has been feeling unwell and could also miss out while Jack Wilshere is still returning from an ankle injury.
England’s midfield woes could open the door to a start for Manchester City’s James Milner or United’s Tom Cleverley although Southampton’s Adam Lallana might be a candidate for a start against Chile.
Lallana’s Saints team mate Rickie Lambert earlier stated that comments made by Chile and Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez had done England’s team talk for Hodgson.
Sanchez said that England’s stars were ‘soft’ because of the money and lifestyle involved in players in the International set-up.
Lambert retorted: “You can’t really buy motivation like that to be honest.”