Injured Beckham cuts short training
England captain David Beckham was forced to leave training early on Monday after failing to shake off a rib injury just two days before he is due to face Poland in a World Cup qualifier.
England captain David Beckham was forced to leave training early on Monday after failing to shake off a rib injury just two days before he is due to face Poland in a World Cup qualifier.
A Football Association spokesman said neither Beckham or Steven Gerrard had completed the session next to the Ernst Happel Stadion where England drew 2-2 with Austria on Saturday.
"Steven was precautionary, there's no injury. David took a bang on the ribs during the game against Austria on Saturday and it felt sore today," the spokesman said. "He will be assessed by the medical staff."
Gerrard played and scored in Vienna after passing a fitness test on a groin injury sustained in training last week.
England face Poland in Chorzow on Wednesday in their second Group Six qualifier, with media pressure building on manager Sven-Goran Eriksson after his team squandered a 2-0 lead on Saturday.
Beckham would have a guaranteed starting place if fit. Should he fail to recover, his place on the right flank would probably go to youngster Shaun Wright-Phillips, who scored on his debut last month in a 3-0 friendly win over Ukraine.