Defensive pair doubtful for upcoming World Cup qualification games.
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England boss Roy Hodgson suffered a double blow today as defenders Gary Cahill and Michael Dawson were declared doubtful for the up-coming World Cup qualification games according to The Daily Mail.
England are set to line up against San Marino and Montenegro this week as they look to book their place in the tournament in Brazil next year.
But their preparations have suffered a setback after Cahill and Dawson suffered injuries for Chelsea and Tottenham respectively during their games on Sunday.
One beneficiary of the injuries is Manchester City’s Joleon Lescott, who has been called up to the side after initially being left out of Roy Hodgson’s squad.
The centre-back has found himself marginalised this season at the Etihad leading to his exclusion from the national side, despite Lescott playing regularly at the beginning of Hodgson’s England tenure.
Rio Ferdinand may now be set for a more prominent role than was originally envisaged.
Hodgson had hoped to rest the Manchester United centre-back for the game against San Marino after the player’s boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, expressed concerns over the potential impact of two games in close succession on the player’s fitness.
But Ferdinand may now find himself called upon to appear in both of England’s fixtures.
Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon has also withdrawn from the squad after suffering groin and hamstring problems following his side’s Europa League tie with Inter Milan last week.