The first casualties from Roy Hodgson's 28-man squad to face Chile on Friday and Germany four days later were announced when Manchester United's Michael Carrick and Danny Welbeck withdrew with injuries.
The two players were both doubts even before the naming of the squad
on Thursday. Carrick admitted after United's 1-0 win over Arsenal on Sunday that he had been "patched up" in order to play in the game with a longstanding Achilles problem. Welbeck has been out since September and, although named in the squad, was not expected to be fit.
The players did not come down to report to the England training camp, now based in Hertfordshire, after communication between the medical departments of United and the Football Association.
No further players have been called up yet, although Hodgson may have no choice but to co-opt members of the Under-21s squad if the next few days bring further withdrawals. It has not been an ideal start to the team's preparation with the squad having to switch their meeting point to the Grove hotel near Watford after a virus was reported at St George's Park.
The squad trained together at Arsenal's London Colney headquarters and will be back there this morning for another session. It means that there could yet be a chance for Adam Lallana to make his senior international debut. Hodgson suggested last week that the Southampton midfielder was regarded as an alternative to Welbeck because of his ability to play in wide positions.
The withdrawal of two of the United players leaves them with the joint biggest contingent in the squad, four, along with Liverpool. There remain doubts over the fitness of Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge who will be monitored over the next two days.
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