Butt ruled out for England as World Cup qualifier looms

Nicky Butt has been ruled out of England's World Cup qualifier in Austria on Saturday with a hamstring injury and is doubtful for next Wednesday's trip to Poland

Nicky Butt has been ruled out of England's World Cup qualifier in Austria on Saturday with a hamstring injury and is doubtful for next Wednesday's trip to Poland.

Head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said he could not be sure if the Newcastle player would recover in time to fly out with the squad on Thursday or be returned to his club.

"We have one problem with Nicky Butt. He is almost for sure out of Saturday's game and is doubtful for next Wednesday," Eriksson said.

"We must take a decision whether he stays with us or goes back to Newcastle for treatment."

The loss of Butt means Steven Gerrard will be moved back into the centre of midfield alongside Frank Lampard, leaving Eriksson with a dilemma over who to bring in on the left.

"Wayne Bridge ahead of Ashley Cole is one option," he said, adding that Kieron Dyer and Joe Cole were also possibles for that role.

There was better news for the Swede from Shaun Wright-Phillips. The Manchester City midfielder was able to train on Tuesday after a back injury he suffered in his club's 4-0 win over Charlton on Saturday proved not to be as serious as first feared.

Butt however was not the only absentee from the workout at Arsenal's training ground.

Michael Owen and David Beckham were to play in a friendly for Real Madrid on Tuesday before flying by private jet to join up with their team-mates.

Eriksson was also awaiting Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves, one of the possible replacements for Butt.

Manchester United duo Gary Neville and Alan Smith were excused the session as they had both played in their club's Premiership match against Everton on Monday.

Smith is competing with Jermain Defoe for a starting role in place of the injured Wayne Rooney in the Ernst Happel Stadium on Saturday.

"I have made up my mind but we have training sessions before I make up my mind 100 percent," Smith said of the choice he faces between the two strikers.

"Smith is a very good target player and is scoring goals this season, which is good to see. Defoe is different; quick, has good technique and is scoring goals."

Eriksson is also without injured centrebacks Sol Campbell and Jonathan Woodgate and must reshuffle his midfield following the retirement of Paul Scholes from international football.

Chelsea's John Terry and Tottenham's Ledley King are expected to fill the centreback positions.

Azerbaijan, Northern Ireland and Wales make up England's qualifying group, from which only the winner will qualify directly for the finals in Germany.