Terry injury hampers McClaren's plans

Terry will have a face mask fitted and although Chelsea are talking optimistically of him being back in training next week, it would be a major surprise if he was.

The usual recovery period is six weeks, which, if that were to be the case in this instance, would not only rule Terry out of the Wembley clash with Estonia on October 13 and the potentially pivotal trip to Moscow to face Russia four days later but also the final Group E game against Croatia.

While McClaren will hand the captaincy to Steven Gerrard, a move many pundits feel should have come at the very start of his tenure, the England coach knows Terry's huge presence in his defence will be tough to fill.

With Jamie Carragher retired from England duty, all the alternatives are hazardous. In an ideal world, McClaren would probably select Jonathan Woodgate.

But the Middlesbrough man is only two matches into his recovery from a groin injury and has suffered so many fitness problems, he cannot be relied upon to be available in a fortnight.

McClaren was at Eastlands on Saturday to watch his current right-back Micah Richards occupy a central defensive role for Manchester City.

Richards has all the attributes required to partner Rio Ferdinand but it will not have escaped McClaren's attention that the 19-year-old was caught the wrong side of Obafemi Martins for Newcastle's goal and any repeat of that in Russia could signal the end of England's hopes of reaching next summer's Finals.

Besides, with Gary Neville still out, McClaren would be creating one problem by solving another by opting for Richards.

Ferdinand's Manchester United team-mate Wes Brown is another candidate but most of his recent action has been in the full-back position Neville has been unable to occupy.