London Colney, Mar 28: England defender Sol Campbell has been ruled out of their Euro 2004 qualifier in Liechtenstein on Saturday by an Achilles injury, the Football Association said on Thursday. But the central defender, who has been carrying the injury all month, will join up with Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad on Sunday in northeast England, in the hope he could face Group Seven leaders Turkey the following Wednesday in Sunderland. "He is not travelling to Liechtenstein," an FA spokesman said. "Sven decided that he should stay here and carry on with his recovery. But he will report for duty on Sunday in the northeast." No new players will be called up into Eriksson's original squad of 25. Campbell's place alongside Rio Ferdinand is expected to go to Middlesbrough's Gareth Southgate, although Newcastle's eight million pound Jonathan Woodgate and John Terry of Chelsea , looking for his first England cap, are available as alternatives. It also seems certain that David James of West Ham will replace injured goalkeeper David Seaman, with Southampton's Wayne Bridge set to replace injured Arsenal full-back Ashley Cole.


Probable England team : James, G Neville, Bridge, Ferdinand, Southgate, Beckham, Dyer, Gerrard, Scholes, Heskey, Owen.

Bureau Report