United pair to miss England games

12 November 2013 17:01

Manchester United duo Michael Carrick and Danny Welbeck have been ruled out of England's friendlies against Chile and Germany through injury, the Football Association has announced.

Carrick carried an Achilles injury into United's 1-0 win over Arsenal and even though he completed 90 minutes at Old Trafford he has withdrawn from the England squad.

Welbeck has not played since October 19 because of a knee injury and he has also pulled out of the double-header.

No replacements have been called up, leaving manager Roy Hodgson with 26 men to choose from for the friendly against Chile on Friday and the visit of the Germans four days later.

England's preparations for the matches received a slight disruption when they were forced to change their hotel because of a virus at St George's Park.

The squad met up in Watford on Tuesday, rather than their normal base in Staffordshire, although the FA insists this was a precautionary measure.

No England players are understood to have been affected by the virus.

Positive news for Hodgson is that captain Steven Gerrard (hip), Gerrard's Liverpool team-mate Daniel Sturridge (foot) and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere (ankle) have joined up with the squad despite their respective injury problems.

Source: PA