Chelsea pair John Terry and Ashley Cole and Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor have all pulled out of England's friendly against France on Wednesday because of injury.
Chelsea pair John Terry and Ashley Cole and Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor have all pulled out of England's friendly against France on Wednesday because of injury.
Bolton's Gary Cahill, Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock and West Ham's Carlton Cole have been called in as replacements.
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Terry missed his side's shock 3-0 home defeat by Sunderland on Sunday with lower back and hamstring problems. Ashley Cole picked up a knock in the match while Agbonlahor was injured in Villa's game against Manchester United.
Andy Carroll's hopes of making his England debut are also hanging in the balance after it was found the Newcastle striker is suffering from a minor groin injury.
Although Carroll joined up with Fabio Capello's squad at their Watford base on Saturday evening, England were sufficiently concerned about him and Agbonlahor to instantly bring in Carlton Cole as back-up.
However, it remains to be seen whether Carroll will be fit as he is due to train with England at Arsenal's London Colney complex Monday morning.
If the 21-year-old does come through, he is likely to be handed his debut at some stage, given the only other strikers at Capello's disposal are Cole, Peter Crouch and Jay Bothroyd.
Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti said: "Terry trained yesterday (Saturday) but, at the end of the training session, he had pain on his nerve in his hamstring and we had the test this morning.
"He was not able to play today (Sunday). I don't think he will be able to play for the national team. He is out of the squad.
"But I think he can play the next game. It is an injury, but he can control it. He has controlled it for 12 games."
The loss of Cole - one of England's few plus points in South Africa - with an unspecified problem, could mean Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs is handed his first senior start.
Bolton's Gary Cahill and Aston Villa full-back Stephen Warnock have been called in as replacements to join the four uncapped players who were selected - Carroll, Chris Smalling, Jordan Henderson and Bothroyd.
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