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EURO 2008: INJURES RULE ENGLAND’S LAMPARD, HARGREAVES OUT September 11, 2007
(SomaliNet) Midfielders Frank Lampard and Owen Hargreaves have both been ruled out of England's vital Euro 2008 qualifier against Russia through injury.
Lampard was facing an uphill to be fit for the must-win Group E match at Wembley, after tearing a thigh muscle in training two weeks ago. He has now left the squad's Hertfordshire base to return to Chelsea.
Manchester United midfielder Hargreaves also suffered a thigh injury in training last Wednesday which left him unavailable for Saturday's 3-0 victory over Israel.
After undergoing a scan and fitness test, the England medical team have decided not to risk him for the game, which is sure to please his club boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Hargreaves has been in and out of the United team since his £17 million summer move from Bayern Munich.
Aston Villa's Gareth Barry is now likely to again start alongside Liverpool's Steven Gerrard in the England midfield, after impressing in his first international start for seven years on Saturday.
Gerrard is reported fit for the match, despite initial fitness fears over his broken toe and being substituted with cramp during the weekend's win.-Eurosport