New England squad member Michael Dawson says Tottenham captain Ledley King can step in for crocked England captain Rio Ferdinand.

King, Dawson insists, will be anything but a liability despite his knee injury.

"He brings calmness to the whole team," said Dawson. "He never gets flustered. He leads by example, he doesn't rant and rave.

"He has had problems with his knee but he has stayed mentally strong. And when he is fit, he is world class."