Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard is out of England’s friendly against Uruguay at Anfield tomorrow after he withdrew from training with a ‘tight hamstring’.
Tottenham midfielder Michael Carrick came into the starting XI for Lampard as it was revealed the injury to the Chelsea player was only slight and his withdrawal was precautionary.
England spokesman Adrian Bevington said: “The medical staff immediately withdrew him from the session and he is going back to Chelsea because we don’t want to take a risk.”
Sven-Goran Eriksson named his starting XI 24 hours before kick-off and will hand a debut to Darren Bent.
Charlton striker Bent, 21, has been in brilliant form since his £2.5million move from Ipswich last summer and was watched by Eriksson against Aston Villa last Saturday.
He has scored 17 goals for his club this season and starts up front with Wayne Rooney.
Carrick, 24, has four England caps but has not played for his country since his impressive performances against the USA and Colombia on last summer’s tour to the America.
He has been an influential figure in the centre of midfield for Spurs this season and gets the nod ahead of club-mate Jermaine Jenas.
Carrick can play as an orthodox midfielder but he is one of the names touted as a candidate to fill the role of screener.
Eriksson has expressed his desire to have a different option across the centre of the pitch and the England boss experimented with Ledley King in a midfield holding role against Argentina, in November.
Lampard’s injury scare will be of concern to Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who takes his team to Barcelona next week for the second leg of a Champions League tie.
Steven Gerrard will play in midfield despite Rafael Benitez’s claims that his captain needed rest.
David Beckham and Joe Cole are the wide midfielders.
Wayne Bridge plays at left-back and Gary Neville returns at right-back after missing the last five England games.
John Terry and Rio Ferdinand have the chance to cement their partnership at the back and Paul Robinson is in goal.
Eriksson will try to avoid playing Terry, Gerrard, Cole and Beckham for the full 90 minutes because they have Champions League games next week.
