UNITED KINGDOM: FOOTBALL/SOCCER -

England injury crisis deepens further ahead of Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel on Saturday, as Frank Lampard pulls out. But Steven Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves and John Terry are expected to be fit. With three days left until England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Israel, Steve McClaren's injury problems seem worse then ever. Frank Lampard, who scored his 13th goal for England in last month's 2-1 home defeat by Germany has been ruled out of Saturday's (September 8) qualifier with a thigh injury although the midfielder has a 50-50 chance of being fit to face Russia next week. England are already without injured Wayne Rooney, David Beckham and Gary Neville as well as the suspended Peter Crouch for this weekend's Group E match. The news is better for fellow midfielder Steven Gerrard, who is expected to have recovered from a hairline fracture on a toe in time to play against the Israelis at Wembley. According to England manager Steve McClaren, Gerrard is keen to play on Saturday and will have an injection if necessary. Manchester United's Owen Hargreaves who set out a Tuesday training session to nurse his troublesome knee injury said football is a tough sport and you don't always play a 100 percent fit. "Sometimes you get knocked, but it's a big difference between a knock and a break, so we all hope Steve G can be fit for the game on Saturday, the medical stuff have got a great heart this week, and hopefully if Steve G is O.K. he'll play and if he is not the we need to accept that also," said Hargreaves on Wednesday (September 5). England are currently fourth in the Group E qualifying table and targeting victories over Israel and Russia to boost their hopes of winning the group. "I think we need to be confident, " Hargreaves said " We'll have a lot of possession and I think if we get the goal early on it could be a very comfortable game for us," . Manchester City's rising star Micah Richards is likely to make an appearance at right-back for England at the weekend. "Hopefully I'll be starting on Saturday, hopefully we can kick on and get three points," said the England defender who starred in the recent friendly against Germany. England face Russia at Wembley in a qualifier on Wednesday (September 12).

ITN Source | September 6, 2007

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