Football: Sinclair out of Slovakia clash

West Ham winger Trevor Sinclair is out of England's Euro 2004 qualifier with Slovakia next Wednesday after failing to recover from a dead leg.

Sinclair suffered the injury at England's La Manga training camp last week, ruling him out of Tuesday's 2-1 friendly win over Serbia & Montenegro.

And, despite intense treatment, the 30-year-old has failed to recover, so has now been released from Sven Goran Eriksson's squad.

Eriksson will not be too disheartened, though, as Sinclair was unlikely to have played a role in England's new-look diamond formation.

The Swede did have some good news as well, with Matthew Upson expected to return to training over the weekend after picking up a dead leg against the eastern Europeans.

The Birmingham defender should be fit for the must-win Group Seven clash at The Riverside.

And Upson's recovery will be a huge relief to Eriksson, who was left with just three fit centre-halves after losing Rio Ferdinand to a knee injury following last month's win over South Africa.

The former Arsenal defender performed competently on his first England start this week and is expected to hold off the challenge of John Terry and win the right to partner Gareth Southgate at the heart of England's defence.

"Matthew has been receiving treatment over the last two days since picking up a dead leg in the match against Serbia and Montenegro,'' head of media relations Adrian Bevington told the FA's official website. "Physio Gary Lewin expects him to be able to train with the squad on Saturday and, if this is not the case, definitely by Sunday.

"Unfortunately, Trevor Sinclair will not rejoin the squad as he is still a few days away from recovery and, having not trained since picking up his dead leg in La Manga, he would not be fit until the early part of next week so Wednesday's match comes just too early for him.''

It leaves Eriksson with 23 players to prepare to face Slovakia.

Sinclair must be well annoyed...After the well below average season he had at west ham,he was given another chance in the england team..only for this to happen...

he is capable of much better than he showed last season and he would do a good solid job in the england team..

I think there are better players though, and someone like Hargreaves deserves his chance ahead of Sinclair.

Hargreaves is a very good player in the making in not positve on his position but im sure he is not a wide man on the wing like sinclair...The thing with trevor is that he can play down both flanks and could be a good member to have in the squad..

He prefers center midfield, mostly the holding role but he hasn't played in this position alot. Bayern use him on the wing and Sven prefers him down the flank. I think he adds more down the wing and is also a good utility player to have in the squad.

So whats the verdict on sinclair for next season if he stays...

I think he will do well with his pace and attacking as their is alot of old defenders in the 1st division and he should score a few goals...

I think he will have his best season for West Ham if he stays. Far too good for the 1st Division and I think he will score alot of goals.

Yep i think he will have a good season as will most of the players...

I hope they play him in his proper position on the right as last season they played him all over the park..

If he stays, I'd like to see him back on the right, him and Glen attacking defenders. Superb.