Ledley King will be sidelined for three weeks with his groin injury, Sky Sports sources understand. The Tottenham star started England's first World Cup game against USA on Saturday alongside John Terry.

But he was replaced at half-time by Jamie Carragher as he suffered a tear to his groin.

England cannot call up a replacement for King, who was the man chosen to replace injured captain Rio Ferdinand in the starting XI.

Carragher, who replaced King at the weekend, will now compete with Matthew Upson and Michael Dawson to start England's next match with Algeria on Friday.