Injured Cole out of England squad

Eriksson aims to make amends Players back Eriksson, says Owen

Arsenal defender Ashley Cole has withdrawn from the England squad to play Austria and Poland after suffering a stress fracture of his foot.

Uncapped Liverpool left-back Stephen Warnock has been called up as cover.

"Ashley has had to pull out," said coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. "He took a scan and has a stress fracture and will be out for one month at least."

Captain David Beckham missed training on Tuesday to be with his ill son Romeo but will join the squad on Wednesday.

Beckham stayed in Madrid on Tuesday as his son underwent hospital tests.

Striker Michael Owen was also absent as he recovers from the dead leg that forced him to miss Newcastle's game against Portsmouth on Saturday - but he is expected to be fit to play.

"He (Owen) will run on Wednesday and hopefully he will be OK on Thursday for a full session," added Eriksson.

Eriksson said that the loss of Cole was a blow but that he had plenty of alternatives.

I have made that decision already Sven-Goran Eriksson on who to play in the centre of defence

"We have a lot of options there, Jamie Carragher is one, Warnock is another, Kieran Richardson is playing left-back for Manchester United at this moment," he said.

"But it is a pity to lose Ashley Cole, probably the best left-back in the world.

"It so often happens when one full-back is injured the other is as well in Gary Neville and Ashley Cole."

The last time Cole was unavailable - against Sweden in a friendly in March last year - Carragher played at left-back in a match England lost 1-0.

Eriksson said that he had already made up his mind who to play in the centre of defence - with John Terry, Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand all in contention.

"It is a big decision," said the coach "One will be disappointed.

"I have made it already and I will not reveal who will play - the players need to know it before the rest of the world.

"Whatever selection I use it will be a good one - I cannot miss because we are talking about three of the best central defenders in the world."

Tuesday's training session took place at Manchester United's Carrington complex, but several players who were in action on Sunday took part in a recovery session rather than full training.