Source: Daily_Mail
Dawson out for eight weeks: Blow for England and Spurs as defender suffers double injury agony
Fabio Capello is facing a crisis for England's European Championship qualifier against Switzerland on Tuesday after central defender Michael Dawson was ruled out for eight weeks. The 26-year-old Tottenham star suffered serious ankle and knee ligament damage after 56 minutes of England's 4-0 victory over Bulgaria in their opening qualifying tie at Wembley on Friday. Agony: Michael Dawson will miss the tie in Switzerland HAVE YOUR SAY. Have England and Fabio Capello turned a corner? After the 4-0 Wembley drubbing of Bulgaria, is the world's best paid coach putting England straight after the World Cup wobble? Is it a case of one swallow does not a summer make - or has your faith in the Italian been unswerving? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Dawson's absence in Basle against a Swiss side who beat world champions Spain this summer has given Capello a huge worry over his defensive line-up. With experienced defenders John Terry and Rio Ferdinand also injured and Jamie Carragher now permanently retired from international football, Capello is likely to turn to Bolton's Gary Cahill. The 24-year-old made his England debut when he replaced Dawson on Friday. Cahill is expected to partner Everton's Phil Jagielka, who has played only two competitive internationals. Capello said: 'I have yet to decide who will play. But it was important for Cahill to play against Bulgaria. He has a big future. It is good for players who have not played a lot of games to come in when the team is in a good moment.Dawson's injury is also a serioussetback for Spurs manager Harry Redknapp. His team open their ChampionsLeague group campaign next week, having already written off JonathanWoodgate's chances of playing this season and with Ledley King's kneeinjury still having to be nursed on a game-by-game basis. Stepping up: Gary Cahill (centre) came in for Dawson to make his national bow Redknapp said: 'It's a serious blow but I would never stand in the way of my lads playing for their country. Michael will be a major loss. He had started the season in great form.' Cahill said: 'It wasn't ideal to come on in those circumstances because when you see a teammate in pain like Michael was, it took the edge off it.' England 4 Bulgaria 0: Jermain Defoe hat-trick helps Fabio Capello along the road to recoveryMARTIN SAMUEL: At last a team that looks like England. what's changed?Theo Walcott hails hat-trick hero Jermain Defoe as England get off to perfect startDefoe vows to be fit for Swiss test after match-winning hat-trick