Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has been ruled out of the England squad to play in the vital final two World Cup Qualification games against fellow rivals Montenegro and Poland , both at Wembley .
England head coach Roy Hodgson appeared to have the luxury of a fully-fit 23-man squad going into the two Wembley matches.
But Cleverley complained of a sore calf after training on Thursday and a scan confirmed he has a problem after he was assessed by the medical team at England’s training camp at St George’s Park in Burton on Trent as Cleverley picked up a slight knock in the training session and has been sent back to his club side Manchester United to be fully checked out.
Hodgson has now called up Tottenham Hospur’s versatile midfielder Andros Townsend , who has impressed in the early weeks of the season with his club by putting in some superb performances which has attracted Hodgson’s interest ahead of the two vital qualifiers.
Townsend looks to have beat Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere to a starting spot after the 21 year old has had a tough week or so in the press as the Arsenal midfielder looks all set to be left on the bench.
In other England news Everton full back Leighton Baines looks set to win his 20th cap for the national side after Ashley Cole pulled out with an injury. Lampard and Gerrard trained together at London Colney on Thursday and Hodgson has opted for the goal threat posed by the Chelsea veteran ahead also of Manchester United’s Michael Carrick.
Wayne Rooney looks all set to be the loan striker as Daniel Sturridge and Daniel Welbeck of Manchester United and Liverpool respectively both look to start.
Montenegro will be forced to name a weakened side with Captain Mirko Vucinic, centre-back Marko Basa and midfielder Miodrag Pekovic all ruled out through injury. Defender Miodrag Dzudovic is also doubtful for the visitors, who earned a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in March in an intense game in the capital Skopje in what was a very difficult fixture for Hodgson’s men . However Manchester City’s new signing Stevan Jovetic could start despite lacking some match fitness.
Joe Hart looks set to be given the vote of confidence by manager Hodgson ahead of the game after the goalkeeper has had some poor games for his club Manchester City.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
