Scan for Beckham
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-03-23 14:28

England captain David Beckham has undergone a scan on a back injury while striker Andy Johnson has been ruled out of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland.

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, whose Group Six leaders face a further qualifier against Azerbaijan next week, told reporters that both men had undergone scans on Tuesday.

"The doctors and physios had a meeting about Andy Johnson and he has been sent home because of an ankle problem. I knew he probably couldn't train until Thursday or Friday but I'd wanted to pick him anyhow."

Eriksson said Beckham's injury was "not a problem. He should train tomorrow."

The Swede said no new players would be called up into the squad for the two games which their fans expect them to win convincingly after a dour 0-0 friendly draw with the Netherlands last month.

"It will be different on Saturday," Eriksson predicted.

"We want to put on a good performance. Absolutely. We know Old Trafford will be sold out, that's fantastic, and there will be millions more watching on TV at home.

"Winning these two games, we are a little bit closer to the big event next summer, so they're very, very important."

While Johnson's absence will move Emile Heskey up the pecking order in the England attack, albeit well behind Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, Eriksson still has a choice to make in midfield.

Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are guaranteed to start, leaving the likes of Joe Cole and Kieron Dyer to scrap for the fourth slot.

Though Eriksson said both men were on excellent club form, he paid particular tribute to Cole's development this season under Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho.

"Joe Cole can do much more today for the national team than he's done in the past. He's playing very well and he's playing much more maturely and for me that's always been the problem with him -- taking big risks where he shouldn't.#

"But he's playing with much more discipline now...In the past I was always talking to him about where to do the tricks and I think he's learned that.

"Dyer is also doing very well, in midfield or as a second striker, and he can play on the right or the left."

Eriksson also has the option of using Stewart Downing, a naturally left-sided midfielder, after the Middlesbrough winger made a muted debut against the Dutch at Villa Park.