Infection rules Lampard out

Frank Lampard tonight became the third member of Fabio Capello’s England squad to be forced out of Wednesday’s friendly with Holland at Wembley.

The Chelsea midfielder complained of a throat infection this morning and did not train with the remainder of Capello’s party.

Lampard felt no better this afternoon and it was decided to send him back to his club for further treatment.

Capello has opted not to call in any further replacements, having already drafted in Manchester United's Tom Cleverley earlier in the day after Jack Wilshere and Michael Carrick were ruled out.

The absence of Wilshere with an ankle injury means Lampard will be particularly disappointed by his own absence.

It was suggested last month the 33-year-old was on borrowed time with England and that Capello now viewed Wilshere as the central component of his team.

Capello has denied that. Still, with a Euro 2012 double-header against Bulgaria and Wales to come next month, an encounter with the World Cup runners-up would have provided a useful platform from which Lampard could press his own claims.