Swann ruled out for England

Swann remains a doubt for the third one-day international (GETTY IMAGES)

England's injury woes increased today when it was announced spinner Graeme Swann will miss the first two one-day internationals against South Africa due to a side strain.

Kent's James Tredwell has been called up as cover and he will fly out to join a squad beset by fitness concerns.

Nottinghamshire's Swann could be joined on the sidelines for Friday's first ODI by James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graham Onions.

Off-spinner Tredwell is uncapped at international level although he was called up to England's one-day squad for the tour of New Zealand last year.

The 27-year-old will challenge Adil Rashid for the slow bowler's role, with the young Yorkshire leg-spinner low on confidence after conceding 25 runs in his only over of South Africa's record-breaking score in the second Twenty20 international at Centurion last Sunday.

Tredwell joins a squad struggling with injuries just over a fortnight after arriving in South Africa for the 10-week tour.

Broad missed the two Twenty20 internationals with a shoulder complaint that will also sideline him for the opening two ODIs against the Proteas.

Paul Collingwood also missed the second Twenty20 with a recurrence of the back stiffness that plagued him during the summer while Anderson has played through pain in his knee.