A Crestfallen Trevor Sinclair was packing his bags last night and preparing to fly back to London after being told by Sven-Goran Eriksson that he had been left out of the final list of 23 players comprising England's World Cup squad. Eriksson invited Sinclair to stay on, pending the outcome of the continuing attention to Kieron Dyer's damaged knee ligament, but the player himself decided to return home.

He had examined his own performance against South Korea yesterday and concluded he would not be retained in the squad. "Deep down I know I didn't do well tonight," he said. "I wasn't pleased with my display. I haven't done myself any favours.

"It's not like I've set the world on fire when I've been given my opportunities. I usually come on for 45 minutes, and I haven't been able to change the shape of the games." Other players, he said, had the advantage of regular competition in the Champions League. "These things tell against you," he added.

After the match he went to Eriksson and pleaded for a swift decision. When it came, he asked to be allowed to go home straight away. "It would be difficult for me to stay out here," he said. "To be here and not to be a part of it, I'd be left hanging on a string." After arriving in England he will resume daily training at West Ham until the deadline for the inclusion of replacement players, which falls 24 hours before the start of England's first match on June 2nd. But it seems extraordinary that, while three of England's first-choice midfield players are engaged in a struggle to recover from recent injuries, their designated replacement should be allowed to make the 6,000-mile journey home when he might find himself returning a few days later.

"Sven understands and supports Trevor's wish to return home," Paul Newman, the FA's director of communications, said. "He specifically praised Trevor for his professionalism, his understanding and his commitment to the team."

Eriksson's decision means that England face the prospect of starting the tournament with serious doubts about at least one squad member. Dyer underwent a session in the gym yesterday and will have his first outdoor session today.