Lampard leg injury makes him an England doubt

England midfielder Frank Lampard celebrates after scoring against Germany during their international friendly at Wembley Stadium on 22 August. Lampard could miss England's crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia after damaging a thigh muscle in training.

Frank Lampard could miss England's crucial Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia after damaging a thigh muscle in training.

Lampard, 29, suffered the injury at the end of Chelsea's session on Friday and was immediately sent to hospital for a scan.

If the problem is serious the midfielder would definitely miss his club's match at Aston Villa on Sunday, as well as the Israel clash on September 8 and Russia's visit to Wembley four days later.

Steve McClaren had named Lampard into his squad on Friday and the prospect of losing another key player will be a massive blow to the under-pressure England coach.

David Beckham, Kieron Dyer, Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville are all missing from international duty, while Steven Gerrard is struggling with a broken toe.

Gerrard has already been ruled out of Liverpool's match against Derby on Saturday and if Lampard is sidelined as well, McClaren will be forced to play Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves in a makeshift central midfield pairing.