Injured Woodgate misses out on England return

Real Madrid centre-back Jonathan Woodgate suffered more bad luck on Sunday when he was denied a return to the England squad after suffering a hamstring injury during his side's 1-0 victory over Real Zaragoza.

The 25-year-old left the field clasping the back of his left leg after rumming to chase back and cover a Zaragoza attack midway through the first half.

The injury did not appear to be a recurrence of the one that kept him on the sidelines for 17 months. His previous injury was on the front of his leg rather than the back.

A spokesman for Real Madrid said Woodgate had pulled a muscle in the back of his leg and that the player would undergo a scan on Monday to assess its seriousness.

Woodgate, who won the last of his five England caps in a friendly against Sweden in March 2004, was due to be recalled to the squad for the friendly against Argentina in Geneva next week.