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| Lennon & Jenas will miss friendly | Lennon & Jenas will miss friendly |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Tottenham duo Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Jenas have pulled out of England manager Steve McClaren's squad to face Holland in a friendly on Wednesday. | Tottenham duo Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Jenas have pulled out of England manager Steve McClaren's squad to face Holland in a friendly on Wednesday. |
| Lennon has a knee injury and Jenas, who has been replaced by Kieran Richardson of Manchester United, has calf trouble. | Lennon has a knee injury and Jenas, who has been replaced by Kieran Richardson of Manchester United, has calf trouble. |
| Defenders Gary Neville and Ledley King, striker Darren Bent and midfielders Stewart Downing and Scott Parker have already withdrawn from the squad. | Defenders Gary Neville and Ledley King, striker Darren Bent and midfielders Stewart Downing and Scott Parker have already withdrawn from the squad. |
| Keeper Chris Kirkland will be absent because his wife is set to give birth. | Keeper Chris Kirkland will be absent because his wife is set to give birth. |
| Lennon had been strongly tipped to make his first start for England but will now miss a chance to stake a claim for a starting place. | Lennon had been strongly tipped to make his first start for England but will now miss a chance to stake a claim for a starting place. |
| Richardson is the first player McClaren has drafted in following the pull-outs. | Richardson is the first player McClaren has drafted in following the pull-outs. |
| He had been the only player omitted from the squad that contested the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia before his promotion from the England Under-21 line-up. | He had been the only player omitted from the squad that contested the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia before his promotion from the England Under-21 line-up. |
| And, in Kirkland's absence, only two goalkeepers will make the trip to the Dutch capital. | And, in Kirkland's absence, only two goalkeepers will make the trip to the Dutch capital. |
| But with Charlton's Scott Carson on under-21 duty in Alkmaar this week, McClaren has an obvious standby option - should the need arise. | But with Charlton's Scott Carson on under-21 duty in Alkmaar this week, McClaren has an obvious standby option - should the need arise. |
| Holland are tough opponents - I'm sure it will be very competitive Steve McClaren | Holland are tough opponents - I'm sure it will be very competitive Steve McClaren |
| With both Downing and Parker missing after picking up groin problems at the weekend, McClaren seems almost certain to ask fit-again Joe Cole to fill the left-sided midfield berth. | With both Downing and Parker missing after picking up groin problems at the weekend, McClaren seems almost certain to ask fit-again Joe Cole to fill the left-sided midfield berth. |
| The absence of Charlton striker Bent, who has a hamstring injury, opens the way for Everton's Andrew Johnson to play some part, either as substitute or a potential partner for Wayne Rooney. | The absence of Charlton striker Bent, who has a hamstring injury, opens the way for Everton's Andrew Johnson to play some part, either as substitute or a potential partner for Wayne Rooney. |
| King was also expected to be on the bench in Holland but he is still being troubled by a knee injury and the Tottenham skipper has decided to remain at home. | King was also expected to be on the bench in Holland but he is still being troubled by a knee injury and the Tottenham skipper has decided to remain at home. |
| United skipper Neville, 31, picked up his injury during United's 1-0 win over Blackburn on Saturday night. | United skipper Neville, 31, picked up his injury during United's 1-0 win over Blackburn on Saturday night. |
| "It's unfortunate. It's a calf muscle injury that keeps recurring," said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. | "It's unfortunate. It's a calf muscle injury that keeps recurring," said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. |
| "It is a concern. Fluid keeps getting into the muscle. We will leave him out for a couple of weeks so we can get him back to the level he needs." | "It is a concern. Fluid keeps getting into the muscle. We will leave him out for a couple of weeks so we can get him back to the level he needs." |
| Jenas has become the seventh player to pull out of the squad | Jenas has become the seventh player to pull out of the squad |
| Neville's withdrawal increases the chances of 18-year-old Manchester City defender Micah Richards earning a first cap. | Neville's withdrawal increases the chances of 18-year-old Manchester City defender Micah Richards earning a first cap. |
| Richards, who is playing right-back for City but can also play in the middle of defence, is the only new face in the squad, which has been reduced to 21 players. | Richards, who is playing right-back for City but can also play in the middle of defence, is the only new face in the squad, which has been reduced to 21 players. |
| And he has received the backing of McClaren who told the Football Association website: "I've watched him play a number of times and he is a strong, quick and athletic player who has really impressed at Manchester City this season. | And he has received the backing of McClaren who told the Football Association website: "I've watched him play a number of times and he is a strong, quick and athletic player who has really impressed at Manchester City this season. |
| "This match provides us with a great opportunity to have a look at him over the next few days and he fully deserves his chance." | "This match provides us with a great opportunity to have a look at him over the next few days and he fully deserves his chance." |
| 606: DEBATE It's obvious that not many league managers are happy seeing their star English players going off to Holland this week TB 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE It's obvious that not many league managers are happy seeing their star English players going off to Holland this week TB 606: Have your say |
| City boss Stuart Pearce added: "He will be a centre-half. | City boss Stuart Pearce added: "He will be a centre-half. |
| "The rate of improvement we have seen from him since the reserve-team games this time last season has been outstanding and I still believe there is a lot more to come." | "The rate of improvement we have seen from him since the reserve-team games this time last season has been outstanding and I still believe there is a lot more to come." |
| Tottenham defender Michael Dawson and Watford keeper Ben Foster are the other uncapped players in the squad. | Tottenham defender Michael Dawson and Watford keeper Ben Foster are the other uncapped players in the squad. |
| McClaren will be looking for a solid performance from his team following the draw against Macedonia and defeat in Croatia. | McClaren will be looking for a solid performance from his team following the draw against Macedonia and defeat in Croatia. |
| And he expects a tough game at the Amsterdam ArenA. | And he expects a tough game at the Amsterdam ArenA. |
| "Holland are always tough opponents as they have a great history and tradition and I am sure it will be very competitive," said McClaren. | "Holland are always tough opponents as they have a great history and tradition and I am sure it will be very competitive," said McClaren. |
| England squad: | England squad: |
| Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Ben Foster (Man Utd) | Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Ben Foster (Man Utd) |
| Defenders: Phil Neville (Everton), Micah Richards (Man City), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), John Terry (Chelsea), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea). | Defenders: Phil Neville (Everton), Micah Richards (Man City), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), John Terry (Chelsea), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea). |
| Midfield: Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Kieran Richardson (Man Utd). | Midfield: Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Kieran Richardson (Man Utd). |
| Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Andrew Johnson (Everton). | Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Andrew Johnson (Everton). |
| Holland squad: | Holland squad: |
| Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord). | Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord). |
| Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Chelsea), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers). | Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Chelsea), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers). |
| Midfielders: Denny Landzaat (Wigan Athletic), Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax), David Mendes da Silva (AZ), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Evander Sno (Celtic), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan). | |
| Forwards: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic). |