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King pulls out of England squad McClaren opts to switch formation
(about 14 hours later)
Defender Ledley King has withdrawn from the England squad to face Croatia in the Euro 2008 qualifier in Zagreb. Jamie Carragher and Scott Parker are expected to start for England tonight in an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation in the Euro 2008 qualifier in Croatia.
The Tottenham skipper, 25, has pulled out of Wednesday's match as a precaution to protect a knee injury. Liverpool defender Carragher will come in for Stewart Downing, who has been off-form on the left wing, while Parker replaces the suspended Steven Gerrard.
King had surgery on a long-standing problem over the summer when he was recovering from a broken foot but his knee is still flaring up after games. Ledley King would have retained his place alongside Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, but is out with a knee injury.
His absence should be offset by the return of Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand following a back spasm. It means under-fire Wayne Rooney will again start up front with Peter Crouch.
News conference: England coach Steve McClaren Interview: England captain John TerryNews conference: England coach Steve McClaren Interview: England captain John Terry
Ferdinand missed Saturday's 0-0 draw with Macedonia and was replaced in the centre of defence by King, who took the plaudits in a disappointing performance. Ashley Cole and Gary Neville will fill the wing-back roles in Zagreb, while central-midfield pairing Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard will have the chance to put the disappointment of their performances in the 0-0 draw against Macedonia on Saturday behind them.
As a precaution, the England medical staff and Steve McClaren felt it was in Ledley King's best interests not to fly and so he is out of the game FA director of communications Adrian Bevington And manager Steve McClaren insists it is not a gamble for him to switch from his favoured 4-4-2 line-up as his side look to equal a 40-year-old record with a seventh-successive clean sheet.
Coach Steve McClaren said: "Rio has trained and it's good to have him back with us. We're missing four of our midfield players. We have to deal with that we're looking at different ways of doing so Steve McClaren
"He will be travelling with the squad and we expect him to train in Croatia, providing there's no reaction." "We've got to change," he said. "We've got to look at different systems and we've got to look at the make-up of the team.
Despite Ferdinand's expected return, King was tipped to keep his starting place, either in a back three or in the holding role in midfield. "If we play three at the back, those players we'll be putting in there have played it before.
But his withdrawal was confirmed after consultation between McClaren and his medical staff. "There are all kinds of systems in the Premier League and I've been involved. We used to change systems out of necessity, because of injuries, because of opponents.
The Football Association's director of communications Adrian Bevington said: "While Ledley King didn't suffer any reaction overnight to his knee, it has become clear that Ledley is not entirely comfortable. "To go to the next level we have to look at these situations. To go through the barrier we might try one or two things.
"Therefore, as a precaution, the England medical staff and Steve McClaren felt it was in Ledley's best interests not to fly and so he is out of the game." "You get very little time with England."
King played his first match of the season for Spurs in the defeat at Manchester United on 9 September and since then has completed four matches for the club. With Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves, Jose Cole and Aaron Lennon all missing from the tie, McClaren admitted his hand has been forced in changing the make-up of the side.
However, the nagging knee problem means he generally sits out training two days after matches. He said: "When you include Lennon, who is an impact player, we're missing four of our midfield players.
And he was forced to miss the Uefa Cup second-leg victory against Sparta Prague as he had not recovered sufficiently from the previous weekend's exertions at Liverpool. "We have to deal with that and we're looking at different ways of doing so.
"Now we've done the work and I am pleased with the reaction of the players."
England (probable team): Robinson, Neville, Carragher, Ferdinand, Terry, A Cole, Carrick, Parker, Lampard, Rooney, Crouch.