Gerrard out of England friendly

August 11, 2009

Steven Gerrard has had to with draw from the England squad that will take on the Netherlands in a friendly on Wednesday due to a groin injury.

The Liverpool midfielder is the latest player to have to withdraw with Ben Foster having to withdraw yesterday.

“Steven Gerrard will not travel to Amsterdam this morning for England’s friendly with Holland on Wednesday,” a Football Association statement read.

“Gerrard has returned to Liverpool as a precaution due to a tight groin.”

No replacement for Gerrard has been named.

The withdrawal of Foster from the squad means that either Paul Robinson or Robert Green will start the match in goals for England as David James is also not in the squad due to a knee injury.

Green, who has four caps, started England’s last two matches, the World Cup qualifying wins against Kazakhstan (4-0) and Andorra (6-0) in June.

Robinson won the last of his 41 caps in a 2-1 European Championship qualifying defeat by Russia in Moscow in October 2007.

Foster has played twice for England, the first in the 1-0 defeat against Spain in February 2007 and the second as a second-half substitute in the 4-0 win over Slovakia in March this year.

He is expected to be first-choice for Manchester United in the absence of regular number one Edwin Van der Sar, who will be sidelined for up to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on a broken finger and bone in his left hand.

England squad for 12 August friendly against the Netherlands:

Goalkeepers: Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers)

Defenders: Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

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