Paul Ince has given England coach Glenn Hoddle what could become a massive World Cup headache after suffering a worrying-looking reaction to his ankle problem. The Liverpool hardman had been sidelined already for three weeks with the injury sustained in a challenge with Arsenal striker and England team-mate Ian Wright at Anfield during the final week of the season.

After some gentle work-outs at Bisham Abbey last week, Ince completed his first full training session since the setback on Monday evening at England's camp in La Manga - but there was a grim picture painted yesterday morning.

Ince was unable to even take part in the warm-up programme and was visibly wincing and grimacing before telling Hoddle that he was unable to participate.

The concern was such that Ince was instantly surrounded by England's four-man team of doctors and physiotherapists and at one stage he was given manipulative treatment. Then the former Manchester United and Inter Milan player sat disconsolately in the dug-out hardly daring to contemplate the scenario of missing France 1998 before emerging briefly to sign some autographs.

Hoddle tried to play down the significance of the injury claiming that it was "nothing mega-drastic", that his being rested up was "a precautionary measure" and that there was "no problem in him recovering for the first World Cup game".

But Ince's reaction, including a sad shake of the head, said it all and even the England coach admitted: "I could see that Paul wasn't happy with it.

"We had a jog together and talked it through but the medical staff said `no' to him taking part and it was decided to rest him up for the day."

The major concern is not the games with Morocco and Belgium in the next 48 hours but whether Hoddle could afford not to have cover for a less than fully fit Ince in his World Cup 22.

Ince, the inspirational bloodied star of the game against Italy in Rome seven months ago, is a cast iron certainty to be on the plane for France as part of Hoddle's squad.

But any doubts over his fitness may mean that Hoddle has to revise his plans and include another similar type of player in his squad as insurance against Ince breaking down.

That could let his former Old Trafford team-mate Nicky Butt back into the equation after he had been appearing to slip down the pecking order into the "possibles" rather than "probables" category for France.

And his enforced inclusion could deal the death knell to the likes of Paul Merson and Steve McManaman, who have been battling to sneak in through the back door as the last of the attack-minded midfielders.

Andy Goram has stunned Scotland by quitting international football just 15 days before the opening World Cup clash against holders Brazil. The 34-year-old Rangers keeper left the Scottish camp last night in the United States.

Goram said he had made the decision because of recent allegations regarding his private life.

He also felt it was in the best interests of the squad that he returned to Scotland and let them prepare in peace for the finals in France. Goram, who has been capped 43 times by his country, was expected to play at some stage against the United States in Washington on Saturday.

But the player, who has spent six years at Ibrox, had been hurt by recent events and made a personal request to manager Craig Brown that he be allowed to go home. The Scottish Football Association made the announcement in a hurriedly prepared statement. It read: "The Association's International Committee and the International team manager have reluctantly agreed to a request from Andy Goram to be released from the squad immediately and to his retirement from international football.

"The player made this request in view of the publicity surrounding him recently and in an effort to prevent it affecting the squad's preparation for the World Cup."

Lothar Matthaus will complete one of football's most unlikely comebacks tonight when he plays for World Cup finalists Germany for the first time in well over three years.