Sven-Goran Eriksson's preparations for England's Euro 2004 qualifying tie in Macedonia suffered another damaging setback yesterday when Rio Ferdinand added his name to the growing list of withdrawals and David Beckham flew in from Spain in obvious discomfort with a groin injury.
Ferdinand has succumbed to the kidney complaint that ruled him out of Manchester United's last two league games. He joins Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Trevor Sinclair among those unavailable to the England manager, leaving the squad looking increasingly threadbare. John Terry will play alongside Sol Campbell for the first time in the centre of defence.
The extent to which Beckham is involved will depend on whether he plays a full part in training when the squad arrive in Skopje today. To the apparent bemusement of Eriksson, not to mention senior figures inside the Football Association, Beckham did not join up with the England party at their training base in Manchester until yesterday evening, having flown from Madrid to London and then been driven the final 220 miles north.
Eriksson's medical staff had expected him to fly into Manchester yesterday lunchtime so that they could examine him at the first opportunity but, even though it confirms there is one rule for Beckham and another for the rest, the FA was at pains to play down talk of a row with the captain.
Eriksson, contemplating playing a hitherto untried team, can at least console himself with the thought that Kieron Dyer, Beckham's natural replacement on the right, resumed full training after complaining of a sore hamstring. However, Beckham's leadership qualities will be particularly needed in light of Ferdinand becoming the fourth experienced member of the squad to drop out.
England's team doctor Leif Sward will examine Ferdinand again in Manchester on Sunday, with a view to him rejoining for the qualifying tie against Liechtenstein at Old Trafford three days later. However, the indications are that his club manager Alex Ferguson will not allow Ferdinand to be involved if there is the slightest risk to his rehabilitation.
Eriksson need not be too perturbed about rushing back Ferdinand for a game when the emphasis, after all, will be on enhancing the goal difference in Group Seven rather than resisting danger from their opponents. There are legitimate concerns, however, about the break-up of the Ferdinand-Campbell axis for Saturday's test of nerve. A hostile crowd at the Gradski Stadium will require composed heads from the England players and Terry, fine defender that he is, is inexperienced.
Still only 22 and with fewer than 100 first-team appearances for Chelsea, he has an old head on young shoulders, but he did not win a first full cap until the 3-1 defeat of Croatia at Ipswich last month, a milestone that was partly tarnished by his part in the build-up to Ivica Mornar's goal.
Even though Terry was entitled to believe he won his quota of headers and tackles, Eriksson will also have noted the defender did not play with anywhere near the same authority he displays at Stamford Bridge and, as is understandable with all newcomers, seemed hesitant at times.
