Section: Europe
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Type: IFA News
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King Heads Back to Tottenham
Ledley King has left England's training camp and will not feature in Saturday's friendly against Slovakia or the World Cup qualifier with Ukraine on 1 April. The Tottenham defender was called up despite a chronic knee injury that restricts his ability to train. The Football Association confirmed he had been assessed by England's medics. Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch is also a doubt for the game against Slovakia after he left training to go for a precautionary scan on a calf injury. Crouch was forced to miss training on Tuesday along with Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips who sat out with a sore back, although it is not thought to be serious. After a near two-year absence from international football King, 28, joined up with the England squad on Monday. The Spurs club captain arrived with Fabio Capello's party at Arsenal's London Colney training facility on Tuesday but did not train and returned to the England hotel and then to his club. An FA statement said: "Both parties agreed the best interests of the player are served by continuing his individual training programme at the club. "Ledley King has returned to Spurs Lodge to continue his rehabilitation over the course of the international break, following discussions and assessments overnight by the medical staff of both the club and the England national team." King had impressed Capello with his solid performances in the Spurs defence. But Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp expressed concern about the call-up, because if King played against Ukraine he could not be considered for club duty against Blackburn three days later. The FA defended the decision to bring King into the squad: "The England management will take no risks," a spokesman said. "They fully understand Ledley's injury situation but they want to have a close look at him." Capello has already pledged to use his maximum six substitutes against Slovakia as he attempts to keep his players as fresh as possible for the match against Ukraine. "The Ukraine game is very important to us," said the Italian. "Their league only started at the beginning of March so their players will be very fresh. "Ours are a little bit tired but I think the fans will help us this time. We will have 12 players on the pitch." Story from BBC SPORT: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7960392.stm |
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