LIVERPOOL'S Robbie Fowler and Dominic Matteo will miss England's World Cup qualifying clash with Poland at Wembley on Wednesday after injury forced them to return to Merseyside for treatment.

Both missed training at Bisham Abbey over the weekend with Fowler again hit by an ankle problem which had previously ruled him out of international action.

Matteo, who had made the squad after turning in some commanding displays in the Liverpool backline this season, has had his hopes of a debut for his country shattered for the time being by a niggling knee injury.

Manager Glenn Hoddle will not call in replacements just three days before the group two qualifier, believing he has adequate cover within the remaining 21 members of his squad.

While England face the Poles, who wrecked their World Cup dreams back in 1973, rivals Italy will host dark horses Georgia.

As England spent most of the weekend playing golf, Hoddle took time out to hold one to one talks with his key players, including Paul Gascoigne.

Hoddle, who praised the Rangers midfielder's "excellent attitude in training," said: "I've told him he is still in his prime and, as he found in 1990, the World Cup is a wonderful stage on which he can still star.