Owen misses England training

04/09/2007

United midfielder Owen Hargreaves trained away from the rest of his England colleagues on Tuesday, but is expected to rejoin the group for Wednesday's practice session.

With doubts over the fitness of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, Hargreaves and United team-mate Michael Carrick could link up for England's must-win Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia. They are joined by fellow Reds Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand in Steve McClaren's squad.

Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo are both named in the Portuguese squad to face crucial games against Poland and Nemanja Vidic's Serbia on Saturday and next Wednesday respectively. The Serbs will first face a must-win home clash with Finland on Saturday.

Patrice Evra's France face a daunting trip to world champions Italy on Saturday, before hosting Scotland - led by Darren Fletcher - a week on Wednesday. The Scots face a home clash with Lithuania before travelling to Paris, however, and could make up ground on the group leaders before they meet.

Holland should have record appearance-maker Edwin van der Sar back in goal when they face Bulgaria and Albania - sides who sandwich them in Group G.

Despite missing the start of the season with a groin injury, Jonny Evans will link up with Northern Ireland's squad to face Latvia and Iceland. Darron Gibson, meanwhile, has been included in the Republic of Ireland squad to face Slovakia and the Czech Republic.