Ferdinand doubt for England match
Defender Rio Ferdinand could be forced to pull out of the England squad for the opening Euro 2008 qualifiers because of a suspected broken toe.
Ferdinand suffered the injury during Manchester United's 2-1 win at Watford.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said Ferdinand faced a scan on Sunday and rated him doubtful for England.
\"We think Rio might have a broken toe, so I don't think he will be joining up with England. We will send him for a scan,\" Ferguson told MUTV.
If Ferdinand misses out, Tottenham's Michael Dawson could be given the chance to partner captain John Terry.
England head coach Steve McClaren is already without injured United right-back Gary Neville for the home game against Andorra on Saturday and trip to Macedonia four days later.
McClaren is also without Joe Cole and Jamie Carragher through injury.
Everton striker Andy Johnson, 25, was recalled to the England in place of the injured Dean Ashton while Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick also returns after missing the friendly win over Greece with injury.
Wayne Rooney is suspended for both games following his sending off in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.
Johnson, who made an £8.6m move from Crystal Palace to Everton in May, was on standby for the World Cup finals but has not played for England since the 2005 summer tour of America.
He won his first England cap as a substitute in a friendly against Holland in February last year and then started his only game for his country against the USA in Chicago.
McClaren said: \"Andy deserves his chance in this squad after starting the season well with his new club.
\"He's a great lad and a real team player who always gives everything. I've spoken to David Moyes and he's delighted with how well Andy has settled in at Everton.
\"I'm also delighted to have Michael Carrick back. Alex Ferguson says he's been training well and should be ready for the two games.
\"It's a shame his start at United has been disrupted but he's a top-quality player and a great passer of the ball.\"
Johnson added: \"When I joined Everton I said that it would be good for my international ambitions and that's been proved right.
\"Every player wants to represent his country and I am no different in that. I just hope that now I can actually play a part in the two games.
\"I am happy with my form at Everton and I have to thank the lads who have made it very easy for me to settle in.\"
Macedonia coach Srecko Katanec has named the same 18-man squad that beat Estonia 1-0 in their opening Euro 2008 qualifier in August.
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England squad:
Robinson (Tottenham), Kirkland (Liverpool), Foster (Man Utd), A Cole (Arsenal), Young (Charlton), P Neville (Everton), Bridge (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Brown (Man Utd), Dawson (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Carrick (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Richardson (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Lennon (Tottenham), Defoe (Tottenham), Bent (Charlton), Johnson (Everton), Crouch (Liverpool).
Andorra squad to play England on 2 September:
Koldo, Alfonso Sanchez, Txema, Javier Sanchez, Toni Lima, Jordi Rubio, Oscar da Cunha, Alex Samoza, Josep Ayala, Juli Fernandez, Oscar Sonejee, Antoni Sivera, Manolo Jimenez, Justo Ruiz, Xavier Andorra, Genis Garcia, Marco Vieira, Marc Pujol, Sergio Moreno, Juli Sanchez, Juan Carlos Toscano, Fernando Silva.
Macedonia squad to play England on 6 September:
Jane Nikolovski, Tome Pacovski, Goce Sedloski, Igor Mitreski, Nikolce Novevski, Aleksandar Vasovski, Robert Petrov, Vlade Lazarevski, Igor Jancevski, Velice Sumolikovski, Vlatko Grozdanovski, Darko Tasevski, Artim Sakiri, Aleksandar Mitrevski, Goran Pandev, Aco Stojkov, Ilco Naumovski, Goran Maznov.
Ferdinand to link up with England
Defender Rio Ferdinand has been cleared to join up with the England squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Andorra and Macedonia.
It was feared Ferdinand had broken his toe in Manchester United's 2-1 win at Watford, but an examination after the match showed only bruising.
The decision was made after a second scan on the toe on Monday.
England play minnows Andorra on Saturday 2 September and Macedonia on Wednesday 6 September.
However, England head coach Steve McClaren does have his injury problems, with Ferdinand's United team-mate Gary Neville, Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole and Liverpool's Jamie Carragher set to miss the forthcoming matches.
Everton striker Andy Johnson, 25, was recalled to the England in place of the injured Dean Ashton while Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick also returns after missing the friendly win over Greece with injury.
Wayne Rooney is suspended for both games following his sending off in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.
Johnson, who made an £8.6m move from Crystal Palace to Everton in May, was on standby for the World Cup finals but has not played for England since the 2005 summer tour of America.
He won his first England cap as a substitute in a friendly against Holland in February last year and then started his only game for his country against the USA in Chicago.
Macedonia coach Srecko Katanec has named the same 18-man squad that beat Estonia 1-0 in their opening Euro 2008 qualifier in August.
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England squad:
Robinson (Tottenham), Kirkland (Liverpool), Foster (Man Utd), A Cole (Arsenal), Young (Charlton), P Neville (Everton), Bridge (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Brown (Man Utd), Dawson (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Carrick (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Richardson (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Lennon (Tottenham), Defoe (Tottenham), Bent (Charlton), Johnson (Everton), Crouch (Liverpool).
Andorra squad to play England on 2 September:
Koldo, Alfonso Sanchez, Txema, Javier Sanchez, Toni Lima, Jordi Rubio, Oscar da Cunha, Alex Samoza, Josep Ayala, Juli Fernandez, Oscar Sonejee, Antoni Sivera, Manolo Jimenez, Justo Ruiz, Xavier Andorra, Genis Garcia, Marco Vieira, Marc Pujol, Sergio Moreno, Juli Sanchez, Juan Carlos Toscano, Fernando Silva.
Macedonia squad to play England on 6 September:
Jane Nikolovski, Tome Pacovski, Goce Sedloski, Igor Mitreski, Nikolce Novevski, Aleksandar Vasovski, Robert Petrov, Vlade Lazarevski, Igor Jancevski, Velice Sumolikovski, Vlatko Grozdanovski, Darko Tasevski, Artim Sakiri, Aleksandar Mitrevski, Goran Pandev, Aco Stojkov, Ilco Naumovski, Goran Maznov.
Ferdinand misses England training
Rio Ferdinand missed England's first training session in the build-up to their Euro 2008 qualifiers against Andorra and Macedonia.
Steve McClaren's squad trained at Manchester United's Carrington training ground, but Ferdinand worked alone in the gym because of a toe injury.
He suffered the problem in United's win at Watford but hopes to be fit to face Andorra at Old Trafford on Saturday.
If he is ruled out, McClaren is expected to turn to Wes Brown.
It was feared Ferdinand had broken his toe at Vicarage Road, but an examination after the match showed only bruising.
England play minnows Andorra on Saturday and Macedonia on Wednesday 6 September.
McClaren does have his injury problems, with Ferdinand's United team-mate Gary Neville, Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole and Liverpool's Jamie Carragher set to miss the forthcoming matches.
Everton striker Andy Johnson, 25, was recalled to the England in place of the injured Dean Ashton while Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick also returns after missing the friendly win over Greece with injury.
Wayne Rooney is suspended for both games following his sending off in the World Cup quarter-final against Portugal.
Johnson, who made an £8.6m move from Crystal Palace to Everton in May, was on standby for the World Cup finals but has not played for England since the 2005 summer tour of America.
He won his first England cap as a substitute in a friendly against Holland in February last year and then started his only game for his country against the USA in Chicago.
Macedonia coach Srecko Katanec has named the same 18-man squad that beat Estonia 1-0 in their opening Euro 2008 qualifier in August.
Ferdinand set for England return
England boss Steve McClaren expects Rio Ferdinand to return from a toe injury and be available to face Macedonia in a Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday.
Centre-back Ferdinand, 27, missed the win over Andorra on Saturday but resumed training on Monday.
\"He will be travelling with us and we expect him to be fine to train again in Macedonia on Tuesday,\" McClaren told the Football Association website.
But keeper Chris Kirkland and defender Luke Young are out through injury.
Kirkland has a back injury while a persistent ankle problem has forced the withdrawal of Young.
\"While that is great news on Rio, we have unfortunately lost Chris Kirkland and Luke Young,\" added McClaren.
\"Chris woke up at home on Sunday morning with a stiff back and was not even able to travel down to join up with us in Watford.
\"It is a real disappointment because Chris has started the season so well and was excellent when he came on against Greece.
\"We are not calling another goalkeeper into the squad as we have already got Paul Robinson and Ben Foster.
\"However, Scott Carson, who is with the Under-21s in Switzerland, is on standby.
\"Additionally, as a precaution, Luke Young is not travelling to Macedonia as he has had an ankle problem which has persisted for a few months.\"
