 Rooney has shone during England's World Cup qualifying campaign |
Striker Wayne Rooney has withdrawn from the England squad for Wednesday's final World Cup qualifier against Belarus because of a calf injury.
The 23-year-old Manchester United striker picked up the muscle strain during Saturday's 1-0 loss to Ukraine.
Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard will remain with the squad after having his groin injury assessed.
Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster was called up by England following the suspension of Robert Green.
Foster, 26, was omitted from the initial squad because of bruising to his ribs but has now been passed fit and was drafted in for the Belarus clash following Green's sending-off against Ukraine.
Portsmouth's David James is likely to start in goal having come on as Green's replacement on Saturday, with Tottenham's Aaron Lennon making way.
England had won their previous eight matches and were targeting a 100% record in Group Six but Sergiy Nazarenko's first-half deflected shot handed Ukraine victory after Green had seen red for fouling Artem Milevskiy.
Rooney worked tirelessly on Saturday when the side were reduced to 10 men in the Dnipro Arena and will now have his calf injury assessed at England's training base in Hertfordshire, before being released back to the Old Trafford club.Gerrard continues his battle to overcome a groin problem - he was a substituted at half-time on Saturday - but remains in the England camp for further treatment.
Europe's joint-highest goalscorer in World Cup qualifying with nine goals will be hoping to be fit for United's Premier League encounter with Bolton on Saturday.
Unless injury hits one of his other four strikers, England coach Fabio Capello is unlikely to call in a replacement.
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