Soccer: Murphy becomes latest England casualty

SOGWIPO, South Korea - England's soccer World Cup injury curse has struck again with Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy suffering a foot injury in training that left him requiring a bone scan.

The Football Association (FA) said it was too early to know the extent of the damage and whether Murphy, the fifth England midfielder to be injured, would be ruled out of the finals which start on May 31.

"A few minutes before the end of today's training session, Danny Murphy landed awkwardly on his left foot and felt a sudden sharp pain," the FA said in a statement.

"He was sent for an x-ray which failed to show a fracture.

"The England medical staff are now planning a bone scan in the next couple of days to establish the exact nature of the injury and, specifically, whether there is any damage to the bone.

"It is too early to say how serious Danny's injury is or how long it will be before he is back to full fitness. The England team doctor has been in contact with Liverpool FC tonight to inform them of Danny's condition."

Originally a standby, Murphy had only been promoted into the squad of 23 after club team mate Steven Gerrard was ruled out by injury.

Three other midfielders in the squad at Sogwipo -- skipper David Beckham, who is recovering from a broken bone in his foot, and Kieron Dyer and Nicky Butt, who both have knee problems -- are also battling to be fit.

In a bitter twist for Sven-Goran Eriksson, Murphy's injury came just hours after the England manager allowed his current standby, West Ham United midfielder Trevor Sinclair, to return home to London.

When Murphy fell, Sinclair would have been in the air -- after overriding Eriksson's initial suggestion that he stay on as a precaution.

It also came hours after Eriksson told a news conference that Beckham, Butt and Dyer could all potentially miss the finals.

Asked at the time whether England's chances of success at the finals had been damaged by the injuries, Eriksson conceded: "If you miss one of your key players, that might be okay.

"If you miss two or three that, of course, lessens your chances.

"But that's football and let's hope that it's enough with those two we left at home, and that we will not have any more problems."

Murphy, who would have been competing with Butt and Owen Hargreaves for a place in central midfield, will have little time recover from his injury.

England open their campaign in group F against Sweden on June 2.

- REUTERS

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