Cahill out of San Marino game

Gary Cahill has been ruled out of England’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino, with Newcastle’s Steven Taylor called up as cover.

Chelsea centre-back Cahill was assessed by England medical staff on Monday, having sustained a knee injury during Chelsea’s victory over West Ham on Sunday.

The Blues centre-back will be re-assessed ahead of the Montenegro qualifier next Tuesday, but Taylor will now likely feature against the European minnows on Friday.

On receiving the call-up, Taylor wrote on Twitter: “I am so happy to have received a call-up to the full squad. It’s every player’s ambition to represent their country.”

Taylor has made 29 appearances for England Under-21s, but has never been capped at senior level.

Centre-backs Michael Dawson and Rio Ferdinand have also withdrawn from the squad, with Steven Caulker and Joleon Lescott replacing them.

Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon will miss both games with a groin injury.

Lennon missed Tottenham’s loss to Fulham on Sunday, while Dawson was taken off at half-time with a hamstring strain.

“He is on the brink of rupturing his muscle,” said Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas about Lennon.

“Lennon won’t be able to make it. He has been struggling a lot with injuries.”

Dawson, who has won four international caps but has not played for his country since the 2-0 win in Wales two years ago, was substituted in the defeat against Fulham.

“He (Dawson) felt his (hamstring) muscle going in the first half. If we had brought him on in the second half we would be risking him a major injury,” Villas-Boas said.

Montenegro top Group H with 10 points, with England two points behind in second. San Marino are bottom, having lost all four matches played.