Butt main doubt for England for Austria tie

MIDFIELDER Nicky Butt yesterday emerged as Sven Goran Eriksson’s main injury doubt ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Austria and Poland.

Eriksson had been fretting over the fitness of Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, but his back injury was not as bad as feared.

Wright-Phillips took part in England’s first session but Butt was back at the team hotel receiving treatment on a hamstring injury which is a cause of concern to England’s medical staff.

If he is ruled out of Saturday’s game in Vienna, Eriksson would have a number of midfield alternatives, including Owen Hargreaves, Joe Cole and Kieron Dyer, as well as Wright-Phillips and Jermaine Jenas.

Hargreaves was, nevertheless, absent from yesterday’s session as he was flying in from Germany, where he plays for Bayern Munich.

Manchester United duo Gary Neville and Alan Smith were also not taking part as they had played in the Premiership draw against Everton.