Tottenham's Kyle Walker withdraws from England squad

KYLE WALKER: Linked well with Walcott down the right and largely untroubled by Seb Larsson. Making increasingly strong claim for right-back berth. 7 (GETTY IMAGES)

Tottenham's Kyle Walker has become the fourth member of Stuart Pearce's squad to withdraw from England's friendly with Holland on Wednesday.

The Football Association have not revealed the precise reason for Walker's absence.

However, it is believed to be fitness related even though the full-back completed the full 90 minutes of Tottenham's remarkable 5-2 defeat at Arsenal yesterday.

Walker's absence, which Tottenham have now confirmed is due to an ankle injury, increases the likelihood of Micah Richards returning to the England team after the Manchester City man was largely overlooked during Fabio Capello's reign.

More remarkably, Pearce has opted not to call up any replacements, even though his striking options have been depleted by the withdrawals of Darren Bent and Wayne Rooney.

Although both Ashley Young and Steven Gerrard have operated just behind a main striker in the past, the three forwards who remain - Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge and Frazier Campbell - only have four caps between them.

PA