Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard has withdrawn from the England squad to face Denmark at Old Trafford on Sunday with a back problem, adding to Sven-Goran Eriksson's injury problems.
And there is also a doubt over the fitness of Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell who picked up a knee injury in a friendly match for his club in Dubai on Wednesday night.
Eriksson has already seen the withdrawal of Gareth Southgate through injury and Gerrard has pulled out after discussions between the Football Association and his club.
FA head of communications Adrian Bevington said: "Gerrard has a back problem and further to discussions between ourselves and Liverpool, he has withdrawn from the squad."
If Vassell is ruled out, then Eriksson will have only two strikers at his disposal in the out of form Emile Heskey and Wayne Rooney who has been suffering from a bout of flu.
Vassell was given permission to play against Al Nasr for his club despite the closeness of the game with the Danes. He scored four times in Villa's 5-2 win but picked up his knee problem towards the end of the game.
Bevington said: "Vassell is having a scan prior to any flight back to England and we will assess his condition in discussions later today with the Aston Villa medical staff."