Steven Gerrard (8/1 to be England’s World Cup Top Goalscorer) cut short an England training session for a second successive day on Friday, adding to fears over the midfielder’s fitness.
Reports claim the Liverpool skipper pulled up during Thursday’s practice match and received treatment on the sidelines for a calf problem.
Gerrard did return to training on Friday but did not complete the session, in which the England squad worked on shooting.
The 29-year-old then left the Austrian training ground with physio Gary Lewin for more treatment, and looks a doubt for Sunday’s final warm-up game (England 7/1 to come from behind and win the friendly) against Japan in Graz.
Sunday’s match will offer a last chance for some players to prove to Fabio Capello that they deserve a place in the final 23-man party.
There is better news on the injury front for Gerrard’s Liverpool colleague Glen Johnson, who also missed training on Thursday with a calf problem.
The right-back was back with the rest of the squad on Friday and impressed during the shooting practise – following on from his cracking goal in the friendly win over Mexico.
Having recovered from a hamstring problem, Sunderland’s Darren Bent is expected to feature against the fellow World Cup qualifiers, with Japan in Group E along with Holland, Denmark and Cameroon.
Stephen Warnock will have a late check on an ankle problem to see if he can start, as he battles with Leighton Baines for the role of back-up to Ashley Cole at left-back.
Capello has already stated that Ledley King will sit out Sunday’s game having completed the full 90 minutes in midweek, so Matthew Upson may be handed a start in the centre of defence.
Meanwhile, Fernando Torres believes Gerrard will be crucial to England’s hopes after claiming his Liverpool team-mate is ‘in the same league’ as Lionel Messi.
The Spanish international says the England midfielder is one of five players capable of dominating at the World Cup and that he is able to ‘win a big game on his own’.
Torres has seen Gerrard’s qualities at first hand and he feels the England vice-captain, along with Wayne Rooney, could win the World Cup for the Three Lions.
The Spain striker said: “He’s in the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, that’s how good he is. Rooney and Stevie must have big tournaments.
“If they do then England should be very much feared.”