Manchester, Sept 04: Central defender Rio Ferdinand will miss England's Euro 2004 qualifier in Macedonia on Saturday due to a kidney complaint, the English Football Association said yesterday.
But there was better news on the fitness of captain David Beckham who has a groin problem.

Manchester United Ferdinand's fitness will be assessed again over the weekend to determine whether he can play in next Wednesday's Group Seven qualifier against Liechtenstein at Old Trafford.

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Ferdinand's is the latest in a string of injury setbacks for England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. Paul Scholes has been ruled out of both games, while fellow midfielders Steven Gerrard (ankle) and Trevor Sinclair (knee) are both unavailable for Saturday's game in Skopje at least.

Ferdinand's place alongside Sol Campbell in central defence is likely to go to Chelsea's John Terry.

Eriksson's doubts over Beckham eased later on Wednesday when the FA said the groin problem the midfielder sustained after playing for Real Madrid on Tuesday against Villarreal in the Spanish league was not a strain.

A FA spokeswoman said Beckham had a tightening of the groin only and had not strained any muscles in his groin.

"He will be assessed again tomorrow, but the England doctors are quietly confident that he will be able to play on Saturday," the spokeswoman said.

Another England midfielder, Newcastle's Kieron Dyer, trained separately on Wednesday as he battles a hamstring problem.

England lie second in their group, two points behind Turkey, who have played a game more and who host Eriksson's side next month in their last qualifier. Bureau Report