Rib injury casts doubt on Beckham

Sven Goran Eriksson has been insisting there is no question of dropping David Beckham, but his place in the team for tomorrow night's World Cup qualifier against Poland is in doubt. A rib injury forced the England captain to retire early from training yesterday and, although a scan did not reveal any major problem, there is a question mark over whether he will be fit to train today or play tomorrow.

Beckham suffered the injury during Saturday's disappointing 2-2 draw against Austria in Vienna. Poland, impressive 3-0 winners away to Northern Ireland at the weekend, are regarded as England's biggest rivals in the group and would go five points clear of Eriksson's team if they were to win tomorrow. Wales and Azerbaijan are the other teams in the group.

The England midfield, which was unchanged throughout Euro 2004, has suddenly become the team's big problem area following the international retirement of Paul Scholes and injuries to Nicky Butt, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Bridge and now Beckham.

Butt pulled out of Saturday's trip to Vienna in order to have treatment in Newcastle on a hamstring injury. He has now been ruled out of tomorrow's game as well. Gerrard had to pass a late fitness test on a groin problem before playing on Saturday and did not take a full part in training yesterday as a further precaution. Bridge, who played as a makeshift wide midfielder against Austria, appears to have recovered from the Achilles injury he suffered in the game, but Beckham's bruised and sore ribs meant he was unable to complete yesterday's training session.

The England captain has not had the happiest of summers on the pitch. Having been below his best in Euro 2004, the Real Madrid midfielder did not play well against Austria, prompting questions to Eriksson over whether he deserved his place in the team. Eriksson quickly rejected any such idea and also refused to criticise his captain for the needless foul which led to a yellow card on Saturday, an incident which may not have impressed some senior Football Association figures. Eriksson said that he would speak to Beckham about the matter.

Losing Beckham would present Eriksson with a tricky selection problem. Shaun Wright-Phillips would be the obvious choice to step into the team, particularly after his impressive goal-scoring debut against Ukraine last month, but Eriksson's natural caution might persuade him to choose the more defence-minded Owen Hargreaves instead.

Already without the injured Wayne Rooney and Sol Campbell, as well as the suspended Rio Ferdinand, Eriksson is unlikely to make any unforced changes. David James, the goalkeeper, gave an erratic performance in Vienna but Eriksson insisted after the game that his place was not under threat. Jermain Defoe, who hit a post late in the game after coming on as a substitute, is pushing Alan Smith for the second striker's role alongside Michael Owen, but the Manchester United man is expected to start again, despite a poor performance against Austria.