Source: Eurosport
Bent Injury Blow For England
England's striker woes continued on Tuesday morning when Darren Bent pulled out of training ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier with Ukraine.[LNB]Bent was only drafted into Fabio Capello's squad on Saturday evening after Carlton Cole pulled out.[LNB]Twenty-four hours later Emile Heskey withdrew after also getting injured in the friendly win over Slovakia, leaving only Peter Crouch and Bent as Capello's frontline strikers.[LNB]However, unless Bent's injury - which as yet has not been specified - turns out to be nothing more than a niggle, Crouch will have to face the Ukrainians unless Capello rejigs his entire attacking system.[LNB]Capello has never previously given any impression of being a convert towards Crouch, who has not started a game under the Italian.[LNB]However, with Gabriel Agbonlahor also on the treatment table, the only other option would be to play Wayne Rooney as a frontline forward, with Steven Gerrard operating just behind, as he does for Liverpool.[LNB]It is something the Italian would be loathe to do given the system he had implemented has been so successful, with Rooney scoring seven times in his last four games.[LNB]The latest development is a worrying reminder of the Steve McClaren era, when key men were missing for virtually every major qualifying game.[LNB]At least there was some good news on the defensive front as Rio Ferdinand was able to take some part in England training, fuelling a belief that he will be fit.[LNB]The Manchester United defender has been feeling a slight aggravation of a back problem that ruled him out for a month earlier this season.[LNB]But after being left out on Saturday as a precaution, Ferdinand managed some light training on Monday and was at Arsenal's London Colney complex 24 hours later as England were put through their paces.[LNB]If Ferdinand is fit it would allow him to line up alongside skipper John Terry in central defence for the first time since the September victory over Croatia, since when Matthew Upson has been a stand-in for one or the other in four of the last five games, with Phil Jagielka getting his debut in last month's defeat by Spain.[LNB]Shaun Wright-Phillips, who also missed Saturday's game, was able to train after an ankle injury.[LNB]Prior to training Rooney collected the England Player of the Year award for 2008, although he will be more interested in maintaining his fabulous recent scoring record as he wins his 50th cap.[LNB]With four successive wins in their Group Six campaign already, England know victory against the Ukraine, the only side they have yet to face, would put one foot into next year's finals in South Africa only halfway through their fixtures.[LNB]
