Steven Gerrard and Kyle Walker out of England's friendly against Chile at Wembley

Roy Hodgson will be forced to field a more experimental side than he had hoped to when England play Chile on Friday as the injury problems pile up.

Steven Gerrard, who has a hip injury, and Kyle Walker are out of the friendly after being forced to miss training today.

They were restricted to working out in the gym, as was Daniel Sturridge, who has a foot complaint, giving Hodgson further selection issues after Michael Carrick and Danny Welbeck pulled out of the squad through injury.

It was confirmed today that Carrick, the Manchester United midfielder, could be out for six weeks with his Achilles problem and it is in his position that Hodgson will have a lot to think about.

Frank Lampard, an obvious choice to replace Gerrard as skipper, is struggling with a cold and that could leave the England manager with a captaincy conundrum.

Wayne Rooney is another candidate to take the armband if the Chelsea midfielder, who trained today, is not fit to play.

Replacing Gerrard in midfield could see Jack Wilshere get the chance to play in his favoured central role or Phil Jones could be pushed forward to bring solidity.

But the absence of the captain and Carrick also improves the prospects of Jordan Henderson, Tom Cleverley and new call-up Adam Lallana.

Hodgson has good options at full-back though, with Glen Johnson, Jones and Chris Smalling all able to play on the right, and Ashley Cole, Leighton Baines and Kieran Gibbs available on the left.

Meanwhile, Southampton striker Rickie Lambert is hoping to use the Chile friendly as a chance to establish himself in the England team before next year's World Cup.

"This is another opportunity to impress, without a doubt," Lambert told Sky Sports News.

"In training I will try to continue to impress and if I get a chance on Friday or Tuesday, whether I am starting or coming on as a sub, I will be determined to do well."

So, too, will Lambert's Southampton team-mates, Lallana and Jay Rodriguez, with the pair also in the squad for Friday's game against Chile and next Tuesday's Germany friendly.

Lambert says they have earned whatever opportunities come their way, adding: "They deserve to be there, the way they have performed. All the English lads in the Southampton team have done well but especially Adam and Jay.

"I hope there are openings for them and I am sure they will get a cap sooner or later."

petikan dari LiverpoolTeamTalk