Lampard laid low by thigh tear

Frank Lampard is a major doubt for England's crucial UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying Group E games against Israel and Russia having torn a muscle in his left thigh in training with Chelsea FC.

Training injury
The 29-year-old midfielder suffered the injury on Friday morning and examinations have revealed a thigh tear. "Chelsea can confirm that Frank Lampard was injured in training and a scan has revealed that he has a tear in his left thigh," Lampard's club said in a statement. "It is too early to say how long the injury will keep him from playing. The injury is on the same leg as the toe he broke earlier this season." The news is a further setback for England manager Steve McClaren, whose side lie fourth in Group E and who will also be without David Beckham against Israel and Russia due to a knee injury while another midfielder, Steven Gerrard, is struggling with a broken toe.