Woodgate chance as Rio is ruled out

Leeds defender Rio Ferdinand has been forced to withdraw from England's squad to face Italy next week - raising the chances of a dramatic recall for his team- mate Jonathan Woodgate.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has been involved in talks with Football Association chief executive Adam Crozier this week over Woodgate's availability for international selection.

Woodgate was suspended from international selection after being charged with assault and affray in 2000 and this policy was continued while he carried out a 100-hour community service punishment after being found guilty of the affray charge.

He completed the sentence a couple of weeks ago and the odds have now increased on Eriksson making the controversial move to bring Woodgate back for the game at Elland Road. Critics of Woodgate have said he should never play for his country again.

Ferdinand, 22, has been struggling with a knee injury sustained in training earlier this week and his Leeds manager David O'Leary said today: "Rio is going for a scan on his knee later today.

"We will know over the weekend how he is, but he will not be playing at Leicester and we will be withdrawing him from the England squad for next Wednesday's game."

England have only two more friendlies - against Italy and then Paraguay on 17 April - before the final 23-man squad is selected by Eriksson for the World Cup finals.

Meanwhile, Graeme Le Saux's World Cup hopes were today looking bleak.

Le Saux, who has yet to be selected by Eriksson, is enjoying a successful season with Chelsea and would provide a solution to England's problem left side.

The 33-year-old, who has 36 caps, was disappointed to be omitted from Eriksson's squad for the match against Holland last month but his chances of being recalled for next week's clash against Italy again look slim.

Eriksson, who could start with Southampton's Wayne Bridge on the left, will announce his squad tomorrow. He has monitored Le Saux's progress and was at White Hart Lane two weeks ago when the player was sent off following a tackle on Tottenham's Argentine defender Mauricio Taricco.

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