Richards and Woodgate miss Wembley training

England trained at the new Wembley for the first time yesterday - although Micah Richards and Jonathan Woodgate sat out the session indicating that neither defender will be fit to face Israel on Saturday evening.

Manchester City had agreed to release Richards despite him hobbling off against Middlesbrough at the weekend despite the fact that there were doubts at the club as to whether he would be fit to face Israel. They have sent the club physiotherapist, Ally Beattie, down with the player to oversee his fitness assessment - but ultimately they will leave the decision in the hands of the Football Association.

The City manager Stuart Pearce - who is also the U21 coach - is understood to have accepted that if the FA's medical team deem Richards to be fit, then he is happy to go along with their decision.

The pair will accordingly fly out to Tel Aviv this morning with the rest of the squad - which also includes the Charlton Athletic right-back Luke Young who received a late call-up yesterday to cover for Richards who is suffering from a calf injury. Woodgate has a troublesome knee.

Young, who last played for England in the 3-2 defeat of Argentina in Geneva in November 2005, has only just recovered from injury himself. He joins Gareth Barry, who replaced Gary Neville, and David Nugent, in for Darren Bent, as late additions to the squad.

Also absent against Israel will be Ashley Cole, who is suspended. Manager Steve McClaren is likely to start with Phil Neville and Jamie Carragher as his full-backs with Cole returning for next Wednesday's meeting with Andorra in Barcelona.

Yesterday Young admitted that he feared Charlton's troubles this season would prevent him from adding to his seven caps.

"When I first got in the England set-up we were high in the league and playing some really good football. That probably gets you noticed because people are coming to watch games," he said. "I was playing well in a side that was winning so that gave me the opportunity to push myself. It's been difficult this year with my injuries and we haven't picked up too many wins."

Meanwhile, if Nugent, who has scored 16 goals this season, plays a part he will be England's first outfield player from outside the top flight since Sunderland's Michael Gray in 1999. Nugent is also the first Preston player to be called up by England since Sir Tom Finney in 1959.

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