Dawson and Ferdinand ruled out
Rio Ferdinand faces another injury scare
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Tuesday, 29, May 2007 03:35
England boss Steve McClaren has been handed a defensive headache ahead of the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia.
Both Rio Ferdinand and his potential replacement Michael Dawson have been forced to withdraw from the national squad with groin injuries.
They will miss the friendly against Brazil on Friday night at the new Wembley and are also set to sit out the trip to Tallinn on June 6th.
Manchester United defender Ferdinand missed yesterday's training session with England after running into trouble in the FA Cup final against Chelsea last weekend.
And a scan today has confirmed the injury, meaning that Liverpool's Jamie Carragher is now likely to pair up with John Terry to shore up England's defensive line at the newly-finished Wembley.
McClaren's side will jet out to the Baltic state soon after the Brazil clash and are under intense pressure to win after a disappointing campaign which has so far left them languishing in fourth place in group E.
Ferdinand missed England's qualifiers against Macedonia last October because of a last-minute back injury.
Dawson's Tottenham team-mate Ledley King is now likely to act as McClaren's main defensive cover, although the England boss may decide to call up another defender ahead of this week's meeting with Brazil.
Defenders Gary Neville, Ashley Cole, Jonathan Woodgate and Micah Richards are already out of the squad through injury and Chelsea's Wayne Bridge is also a doubt.
Tottenham's Aaron Lennon is another casualty, after he pulled up in the England B side's win over Albania last Friday with knee trouble.