England midfielder Owen Hargreaves will not be able to take part in the next round of World Cup qualifiers.

The Manchester United player is suffering from a recurrence of his long-standing knee injury, the latest tweak in his knee coming in a training session.

Canadian-born Hargreaves was due to make an appearance for United in their European Super Cup match with Zenit St Petersburg, as well as being a part on Fabio Capello's England side which is to take on Andorra and Croatia.

However, the injury that ruled out Hargreaves of the European showpiece is going to rule him out of the England games altogether.

The extent of the 27-year-old's problem is not clear but his absence is a blow to England given that Capello has also lost Steven Gerrard to injury.

Hargreaves will certainly be frustrated as he has missed the last friendly match against the Czech Republic on August 20.

The former Bayern Munich man has had injections to ease a tendinitis problem that first surfaced last summer, just after his move to Old Trafford.

Having sat out United's pre-season tour to South Africa, it was thought Hargreaves would have healed sufficiently for him to also play for the Three Lions.

England play Andorra on September 6 at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona.


espnstar.com


Does this guy ever stay fit???