England will not be able to help and R. Ferdinand © EuroFootball.com

The defender of the England national team and club, Rio Ferdinand, will most likely miss the first England national team match in the 2008 European Championship qualifiers after suffering a broken toe.

The injury occurred in a Premier League match between Watford and Man Utd last Saturday. Man Utd manager Sir Alex Ferguson says that on Sunday the player will undergo an X-ray to determine the severity of the injury.

"Rio most likely broke a toe bone, so I don't think he will be able to help his national team," the coach said on MUTV. "We will send him for further tests, but it seems to be a broken toe."

If R. Ferdinand is unable to help England, the central defensive duo with John Terry should be formed by Tottenham's defender Michael Dawson.

Having previously played for West Ham and Leeds United, Ferdinand is a key pillar of the England national team defense, and his absence from the matches against Andorra and Macedonia is a serious loss.

The new England national team manager, Steve McClaren, has already lost midfielder Joe Cole, defenders Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville, as well as forward Wayne Rooney, who is also suspended and will miss these two matches.