Injury rules Terry out of England squad

Central defender John Terry will miss England's next two World Cup qualifiers because of a knee injury that will sideline him for at least four weeks, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said yesterday. The Chelsea captain, who suffered the injury during a 2-0...

Central defender John Terry will miss England's next two World Cup qualifiers because of a knee injury that will sideline him for at least four weeks, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said yesterday.

The Chelsea captain, who suffered the injury during a 2-0 Premier League win over Tottenham on Saturday, has been sent back to Stamford Bridge for treatment after being checked over by England medical staff.

"He will not be ready for Wales (on Saturday), he will not be ready for Northern Ireland (on September 7) and we'll have to see if he will be ready for the October games," Eriksson said.

"The doctors said they think he's out for at least four weeks."

England's two final qualifiers are at home to Austria on October 8 and Poland on October 12.

Fulham defender Zat Knight has been called into a squad which is now desperately short of central defenders with Terry, Sol Campbell, Ledley King and long-term injured Jonathan Woodgate all unavailable.

Terry's absence, a major blow at club level to the champions, gives an opportunity for Liverpool's Jamie Carragher or Matthew Upson of Birmingham City to partner Rio Ferdinand in central defence.

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