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Terry brings Hodgson's injured absentees to 11

 

Monday 10 September 2012 10:26 BST
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John Terry: The defender played on after injuring an ankle against
Moldova
John Terry: The defender played on after injuring an ankle against Moldova (Getty Images)

John Terry is out of England's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine tomorrow with an ankle problem, making 11 players now lost to injury.

The England squad is well stocked for centre-backs and there is a good chance that Phil Jagielka will get the nod ahead of Gary Cahill because of the understanding that he and Joleon Lescott developed at Everton. There are no plans to replace Terry, who has gone back to Chelsea.

His club face Queen's Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Saturday, a game which is not insignificant given the allegations that came out of the fixture last year that Terry had racially abused Anton Ferdinand. He was cleared of the offence in a magistrates' court in July but still faces a Football Association charge.

Terry's injury is not thought to be severe, but he is a doubt for Saturday. He joins club-mate Ashley Cole as well as Adam Johnson and Andy Carroll as players who have withdrawn from Hodgson's 24-man squad. The England manager was already without Wayne Rooney, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Ashley Young, Jack Wilshere, Gareth Barry and Scott Parker.

Terry picked up an ankle injury in the first half against Moldova on Friday. When he landed awkwardly on it in the second half, England had used all their substitutions. Hodgson offered Terry the chance to come off with 20 minutes left but the defender rejected the suggestion. Hodgson said: "I'd have liked to have taken him off, and we did suggest we'd play with 10. He's a warrior, though, so he pooh-poohed the suggestion."

The FA has sold 61,000 tickets for the Ukraine game and hopes that will grow closer to 70,000. Around 5,000 London 2012 Olympics Games Makers have taken up the offer to buy discounted tickets for £20.12.

Having scored his first international goal in 32 caps on Friday, James Milner said yesterday that he hoped he would add more.

"I am definitely capable of scoring more goals," Milner said. "It wasn't really bothering me. I think I had done everything else, hit the side-netting, and inside the posts, and keepers had pulled off good saves."

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