Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney will be left out of England's squad to tour the United States later this month.
Central defender Ferdinand will be rested because of a knee problem while forward Rooney is tired.
The Football Association will officially announce the squad for the tour at 1100 GMT on Thursday although Sky Sports were reporting Ferdinand and Rooney's omissions on Wednesday.
The sports television channel said England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson had left the pair out after a request from their club manager Alex Ferguson.
England will play the U.S. on May 28 in Chicago, a week after the FA Cup final, and Colombia in New Jersey on May 31.
FA sspokesman Adrian Bevington said on Wednesday that England would be taking the strongest team available.
"A number of senior players have already given their support to the tour, while David Beckham and Michael Owen will be joining for the game in New Jersey following the end of the Spanish season," Bevington told the FA's website.
"This tour has always been an opportunity for Sven and the coaching staff to look at some new players a year before the World Cup in Germany.
"Next season, opportunities will be at a premium for Sven to look at new players -- so he feels this is a great platform for some of the Premier League's bright young stars who have yet to become established in the England team.
"It will be an opportunity to play against non-European opposition the summer before the World Cup, which nowadays is few and far between due to larger qualifying groups."
Shortly after the tour was announced in March, United manager Ferguson was quoted as being unhappy.
"The players at the very top of the Premiership, with Chelsea or Arsenal or United, have a harder season than others," he said. "Sometimes they need a rest."
© 2024 Rediff.com -