Thigh strain rules out Woodgate

Newcastle United FC central defender Jonathan Woodgate will not be fit to represent England at UEFA EURO 2004™.

Torn muscle
The 24-year-old tore a thigh muscle 12 minutes from the end of Newcastle's 2-1 win against Chelsea FC last weekend. Club doctors initially thought that Woodgate would be sidelined for six weeks, only to extend that recovery period following further tests.

'At least two months'

Defensive problems
Woodgate was competing with John Terry for the second central defensive position alongside Arsenal FC's Sol Campbell, leaving the Chelsea man as a likely starter for Sven-Göran Eriksson's side. The manager is already without the suspended Rio Ferdinand, while Gareth Southgate is an injury doubt.