Gerrard ruled out of England game
Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of England's World Cup qualifier against Belarus at Wembley on Wednesday after failing to shake off a groin injury.
The midfielder sustained the problem in Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Ukraine and after limping out of training on Tuesday will now return to Liverpool.
Gerrard joins striker Wayne Rooney, who has a calf injury, on the sidelines.
Goalkeeper David James faces a late fitness assessment after sitting out the session with a knee problem.
The Portsmouth keeper was favourite to replace Robert Green - who is suspended following his dismissal against Ukraine - but he has developed some pain in his knee and England coach Fabio Capello will speak to the 39-year-old early on Wednesday before making a decision.
And amid speculation that the Italian may opt to make changes to his side, with qualification for the 2010 Cup ensured, Capello revealed that "it's possible you'll be surprised ".
Rooney's absence in particular looks likely to prompt a rethink, with Tottenham's Peter Crouch and Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor set to partner each other up front.
Capello insists England can cope without the Manchester United striker, who worked tirelessly on Saturday when the side was reduced to 10 men in the Dnipro Arena and will now return to the Old Trafford club.
"Rooney is a very important player for us and also for United but the result is we'll play a different style, with some different players and it will be a very interesting game for me," stated Capello.
"I will know some players better. I have big confidence in all the players. Rooney is important because his style is the style I like in my team but we have other important players. We can win with Rooney and without Rooney."
Europe's joint highest goalscorer in World Cup qualifying, with nine goals, will be hoping to be fit for United's Premier League encounter against Bolton on Saturday.
England had won their previous eight matches and were targeting a 100% record in Group Six but Sergiy Nazarenko's first-half deflected shot on Saturday handed Ukraine victory after Green had seen red for fouling Artem Milevskiy.
However, Capello's squad will be looking to end the campaign on a high in their last competitive match ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals, even though the coach conceded that "our games in March and May will be more important".
Gerrard's absence will no doubt cause further headaches for the Italian, who is already missing the likes of Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole and Owen Hargreaves.
But one man who will continue in the side is Rio Ferdinand, despite being widely criticised for his performance in Dnipropetrovsk.
"Rio will play. I have big confidence in Rio, he needs to play and I'm sure that he will get better every game," added Capello.
Fit-again Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster, meanwhile, has been called up as further cover for Green, having been omitted from the initial squad because of bruising to his ribs.
