Manchester United defender Gary Neville has pulled out of the
England squad for Wednesday's friendly against Holland.
The 31-year-old right back picked up a calf injury during United's
1-0 win over Blackburn on Saturday night.
"It's unfortunate. It's a calf muscle injury that keeps recurring,"
said United manager Alex Ferguson.
"It is a concern. Fluid keeps getting into the muscle. We will
leave him out for a couple of weeks so we can get him back to the
level he needs."
Neville's withdrawal increases the chances of 18-year-old
Manchester City defender Micah Richards earning a first cap.
Richards, who is playing right back for City but who can also play
in the middle of defence, is the only new face in the squad, which
is reduced to 27 players after Neville's withdrawal.
Tottenham defender Michael Dawson and Watford keeper Ben Foster are
the other uncapped players in the squad.
Kieran Richardson is the only player omitted from the squad that
contested the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and
Croatia.
Joe Cole, Aaron Lennon and Andrew Johnson are back after missing
out last time through injury.
McClaren will be looking for a solid performance from his team
following the draw against Macedonia and defeat in Croatia.
And he expects a tough game at the Amsterdam ArenA.
"Holland are always tough opponents as they have a great history
and tradition and I am sure it will be very competitive," McClaren
told the Football Association website.
"Both the staff and the players are really looking forward to
playing one of the top teams in an impressive stadium."
Richards, who has three England Under-21 caps, made his first-team
debut for Manchester City as an 85th-minute substitute in a
Premiership fixture at Arsenal on 22 October, 2005.
He is a product of City's Academy and has been an ever-present in
Stuart Pearce's team this season, more usually playing at
right-back rather than his preferred position in the centre of
defence.
"I've watched him play a number of times and he's a strong, quick
and athletic player who has really impressed at Man City this
season," said McClaren.
"This match provides us with a great opportunity to have a look at
him over the next few days, and he fully deserves his
chance."
Defender Dawson joined Tottenham for £4m in January 2005, while
keeper Foster is on loan at Watford from Manchester United.
Dutch coach Marco van Basten has named eight British-based players
in his squad for the game.
Chelsea pair Arjen Robben and Khalid Boulahrouz, Celtic duo Evander
Sno and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Wigan's Denny Landzaat, Robin
van Persie of Arsenal, Dirk Kuyt of Liverpool and Blackburn's Andre
Ooijer have all received call-ups.
The claims of Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy have been
ignored, while Van Basten has agreed to rest Manchester United
goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
England have failed to beat Holland in three friendlies since their
4-1 win over the Dutch at Euro 96.
Holland were 2-0 friendly winners over England in 2001 at White
Hart Lane and since then the sides have been inseparable - a 1-1
stalemate at the Amsterdam ArenA in 2002 and a 0-0 draw at Villa
Park in 2005.
England squad:
Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Chris Kirkland (Wigan), Ben
Foster (Man Utd)
Defenders: Phil Neville (Everton), Micah Richards (Man City), Rio
Ferdinand (Man Utd), John Terry (Chelsea), Ledley King (Tottenham),
Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Michael Dawson
(Tottenham), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)
Midfield: Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Shaun Wright-Phillips
(Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea),
Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Scott Parker (Newcastle), Jermaine Jenas
(Tottenham), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Stewart Downing
(Middlesbrough)
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermain
Defoe (Tottenham), Darren Bent (Charlton), Andrew Johnson
(Everton).
Holland squad:
Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer
(Feyenoord).
Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Chelsea), Giovanni van Bronckhorst
(Barcelona), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar),
Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers).
Midfielders: Denny Landzaat (Wigan Athletic), Hedwiges Maduro
(Ajax), David Mendes da Silva (AZ), Stijn Schaars (AZ), Wesley
Sneijder (Ajax), Evander Sno (Celtic), Rafael van der Vaart
(Hamburg).
Forwards: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin
van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Jan Vennegoor of
Hesselink (Celtic).