Joleon Lescott & Paul Robinson pull out

The usual raft of players pulling out of the England squad ahead of an international fixture has begun, although with Fabio Capello's team now being qualified for next summer's World Cup in South Africa, the Italian manager may even appreciate the opportunity to run the rule over a few more contenders for his 23-man party.

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson of Blackburn Rovers and centre back Joleon Lescott of Manchester City were yesterday's casualties from the national set-up, returning to their clubs, Robinson being replaced by Joe Hart (Man City but on loan to Birmingham) and Bolton's Gary Cahill coming in for the £23m Lescott. Robinson's hip problem, picked up perhaps while bending down to pick the ball out of the net during Rovers' 6-2 thrashing at the Emirates on Sunday, means the perennial goalkeeping question returns for Capello.

Manchester United sticksman Ben Foster was not even named in the squad on Sunday, with Capello citing a mystery chest injury to the 26-year-old. Foster had a torrid time at the weekend, letting in two against Sunderland at Old Trafford and reportedly having a furious row with his boss Alex Ferguson after the game. Hart while come in as third-choice keeper, behind Portsmouth's David James and Robert Green of West Ham (although James was excused training yesterday with England at London Colney ahead of Saturday's trip to the Ukraine).

Cahill is rewarded for solid play at the Reebok stadium, and will hope that on this occasion, he will see some time on the pitch. He travelled with the squad to Kazakhstan earlier this year but failed to get a debut on that occasion. Unfortunately for Cahill he plies his trade in an area of the pitch where Capello has an embarrassment of riches to choose from - first choices John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, ably backed up by Lescott and Matthew Upson - so may come along just for the ride this weekend.

Meanwhile, with Michael Owen's groin injury for Manchester United sustained in the Champions League last week ruling him out of contention for the latest international, the opportunities for the England great to add to his 89 caps and 40 goals are running out. But Owen, who returned to full training this week, claimed yesterday that he could still muscle his way into the national squad for South Africa.

"We'll see about that. The ultimate aim of every English footballer is to go to the World Cup and get into that squad," he told the Daily Express. "It's not until the summer so I've got six or seven months to do as well as possible for Manchester United and if that's the case then hopefully Capello will be watching."