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Lampard setback adds weight to Capello's emphasis on youth

Sam Wallace
Saturday 13 November 2010 01:00 GMT
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(Getty Images)

Frank Lampard suffered another set-back in his injury-plagued season when he broke down in training on Thursday, Carlo Ancelotti revealed yesterday, which means that the Chelsea midfielder will not be back in action for another month.

Lampard was never in with a realistic chance of being named tonight in the England squad to face France on Wednesday, but he had been back in full training last week when he pulled up with an adductor muscle injury. He has not played since August, first undergoing a hernia operation and then injuring a tendon at the top of his hamstring during his recovery.

Ancelotti had been hopeful that Lampard would play against Sunderland tomorrow, especially with Michael Essien suspended. The manager said: "He didn't have injuries in the past. Obviously he's not happy because he'd like to play. He played a lot of games last season and has over the course of his career, and now he's not happy.

"But he has strength. Now he has to rest before starting to train next week. It's not been a problem of him doing things too quickly. We were patient and took time putting him into the training session."

Fabio Capello names his squad for the France game tonight with the emphasis on emerging, young players from the Under-21s squad.

Gabriel Agbonlahor will be named in the squad if he plays for Aston Villa against Manchester United today. The striker has only made one substitute's appearance since September. Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Phil Jones will all be in the squad but Daniel Sturridge has not played enough Chelsea first-team games, the Capello camp believes, to justify selection this time.

Among those put on stand-by by the Football Association this week is Matt Jarvis, the right-footed winger who plays on the left for Wolverhampton Wanderers, although that does not mean he will be in the final 23. The provisional squad is communicated privately to warn players under consideration not to book holidays and also includes Bolton's Kevin Davies, who made his debut in the last Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro, Sunderland's Michael Turner and Cardiff's Jay Bothroyd, the top scorer in the Championship.

It will be between Davies and Peter Crouch for the other "big man" striker's place alongside Carroll, with Crouch the favourite to stay in the squad. Theo Walcott will be selected by Capello as one of the team's midfielders. Phil Jagielka is available for selection again. Glen Johnson is struggling for fitness and beyond him Capello has few options at right-back.

Wayne Rooney will not be in the squad. The Manchester United striker is due to return from his rehabilitation in Oregon in America today and technically is available but he will report to his club's training ground on Monday where his ankle will be assessed. He is expected to instead concentrate on making his comeback in club colours. After today's game against Villa, United next play against Wigan at Old Trafford on Saturday.

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