Butt misses England training
Nicky Butt was the only absentee from England’s training session today ahead of their latest European Championship qualifier against Liechtenstein at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Manchester United midfielder Butt travelled with the rest of the squad to a familiar haunt of The Cliff training ground, United’s former facility before they moved to their Carrington complex.
Butt, struggling with a sore ankle, initially looked on from the sidelines for the opening few minutes while his team-mates trained before he was driven away for treatment.
Despite the withdrawals last week of Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard and Trevor Sinclair prior to Saturday’s 2-1 win over Macedonia in Skopje, Butt will be fit to face Liechtenstein.
Gerrard and centre-back Rio Ferdinand, who also missed the Macedonia victory, both enjoyed another work-out as they stepped up their fitness following a return to training yesterday.
Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side need victory over the European minnows to ensure they go into the final Group Seven clash with Turkey next month in the driving seat and requiring only a draw to guarantee their place in next summer’s finals in Portugal.
