Awkward fall is a pain in the neck for John Terry and England

John Terry is a doubt for England's World Cup qualifying double-header against Moldova and Ukraine on 7 and 11 September after missing Chelsea's win over Newcastle United on Saturday with a stiff neck.

Roberto Di Matteo, the Chelsea manager, said Terry "fell last Wednesday [against Reading] and hit his head on the ground. He has a neck problem but hopefully it won't be long-term. I will have to monitor him in the next few days, the next week, and see how he recovers."

Roy Hodgson, the England manager, has said he would pick the twice-deposed national captain despite Terry being charged by the Football Association with "using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour, which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or race towards QPR's Anton Ferdinand". Terry has denied the charge and requested a personal hearing, the date of which is still to be set. Hodgson will name his squad towards the end of this week.

Terry is unavailable for Chelsea's Uefa Super Cup final against Atletico Madrid in Monaco on Friday as he is suspended. Frank Lampard started on the bench for Chelsea on Saturday; Di Matteo said the midfielder was fit but rested after a run of games for club and country.