WEST HAM defender Matthew Upson could be called upon in England's first game of the World Cup against the USA after Rio Ferdinand was sent to hospital for a scan on a knee injury picked up in training.
Both Upson and Robert Green took part in Friday's training session at the squad's base in Rustenberg.
However, the injury to Ferdinand, while described by England boss Fabio Capello as only a 'slight problem', could leave the door open for Upson to partner John Terry at the back when the team's World Cup campaign kicks off next Saturday.
Capello said: “The bad news is that in the last moments of the training session Rio suffered a problem with his knee. He has gone to hospital for a scan. We will have to see how things are. He did it during a tackle.”
Green, meanwhile, has been handed the number 12 jersey, with David James getting the number one shirt. That has prompted speculation that the Portsmouth keeper will be Capello's first-choice between the posts in South Africa, although the Italian stressed that the squad numbers 'mean nothing'.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here