Butt out for England

England midfielder Nicky Butt’s participation in Euro 2004 looks to be over after a scan revealed medial ligament damage to his right knee.

The Manchester United star suffered the setback in training yesterday and a visit to the specialist confirmed coach Sven-Goran Eriksson’s worst fears.

A Football Association spokesman admitted that such an injury is likely to keep a player on the sidelines for up to a month although no formal decision has yet been made as to when Butt will return home.

It is a second midfield setback for Eriksson as Paul Scholes is rated only 50/50 to be fit for Thursday’s game with Switzerland because of an ankle problem.

The FA have contacted UEFA about the possibility of a replacement for Butt but were told that can only happen in “exceptional circumstances”.

FA spokesman Colin Gibson said: “Nicky Butt has got medial ligament damage which is normally a three to four-week injury and it is unlikely he will play any further part in the tournament.

“At the moment no decision has been made on whether he will return to England. He obviously wants to stay with the squad as long as possible.

“We have contacted UEFA about the situation of replacing a player. But the guidelines say that can only happen in exceptional circumstances after the first match of the tournament.

“We will be holding discussions later in the day regarding the possibility of any formal decision over Nicky’s future with the squad.”

Less than a month ago, Butt looked be a certainty for a place in Eriksson’s starting line-up at Euro 2004 as the holding midfield player.

But he has been overtaken in the pecking order by Frank Lampard who justified his selection with a splendid goal in Sunday’s opening game with France.

If Scholes and Butt cannot play on Thursday, Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves is the leading candidate to step into the side although Kieron Dyer would also be in contention.