LONDON Michael Owen of Liverpool and Paul Scholes of Manchester United both pulled out of the England squad for Wednesday's friendly international against Italy in Turin because of injury.
They joined Manchester United defender Wes Brown (knee) and Leeds United's Alan Smith (exhaustion) on the sidelines for the match which caretaker Coach Peter Taylor was using as a game to blood a number of new young players in the team.
Owen, who has only just recovered from a head injury, took part in a light training session on Monday but pulled out after hurting his back.
Scholes also trained but has a thigh injury and has returned to Manchester.
Every player in the squad was aged 30 or under and Scholes, with 30 caps, and Owen, who has 24 caps, were two of the more experienced players.
While England will be without those four players, Italy will be without Francesco Totti and Mark Iuliano. Roma Playmaker Totti has a strained muscle in his leg while Juventus defender Iuliano also has a leg injury.
Meanwhile England's World Cup campaign was given something of a boost on Monday with unconfirmed reports that new Coach Sven Goran Eriksson may be allowed to coach England in their qualifiers against Albania and Finland next year.
Lazio, where Eriksson is currently boss, originally said they would not release him to work with England until his contract with them ends next July, but Vice President Dino Zoff hinted on Monday they are willing to reconsider that situation.
(Reuter)