Butt worry for England as World Cup qualifier looms

England midfielder Nicky Butt trains at the Estadio Nacional in Lisbon. Butt could be doubtful for England's World Cup qualifier in Austria on Saturday after missing the squad's first training session with a hamstring problem.

Nicky Butt could be doubtful for England's World Cup qualifier in Austria on Saturday after missing the squad's first training session with a hamstring problem.

There was however better news for Sven-Goran Eriksson from Shaun Wright-Phillips. The Manchester City midfielder was able to train after a back injury he suffered in his club's 4-0 win over Charlton on Saturday proved not to be as serious as first feared.

Butt was not the only absentee from the workout at Arsenal's training ground.

Michael Owen and David Beckham were to play in a friendly for Real Madrid on Wednesday before flying by private jet to join up with their team-mates.

Eriksson was also awaiting Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves, one of the possible replacements should Butt fail to recover in time for Saturday's match.

Manchester United duo Gary Neville and Alan Smith were excused the session as they had both played in their club's Premiership match against Everton on Monday.

Smith is competing with Jermain Defoe for a starting role in place of the injured Wayne Rooney in the Ernst Happel Stadium on Saturday.

Eriksson is also without injured centre-backs Sol Campbell and Jonathan Woodgate and must reshuffle his midfield following the retirement of Paul Scholes from international football.

Chelsea's John Terry and Tottenham's Ledley King are expected to fill the centre-back positions but the shape of the midfield will depend on whether Butt is available.

England's match in Vienna is followed by a trip to Poland for their second qualifier on September 8. Azerbaijan, Northern Ireland and Wales make up the group, from which only the winner will qualify directly for the finals in Germany.