Lennon out of England squad, Dawson doubtful

LONDON (AFP) –

Tottenham Hotspur‘s English midfielder Aaron Lennon celebrates scoring at White Hart Lane on October 7, 2012. Lennon will miss England‘s World Cup qualifying double-header with San Marino and Montenegro due to injury and Michael Dawson may also be unavailable, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said on Sunday.

Aaron Lennon will miss England’s World Cup qualifying double-header with San Marino and Montenegro due to injury and Michael Dawson may also be unavailable, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas said on Sunday.

Lennon was left out of Tottenham’s squad for the 1-0 loss at home to Fulham after sustaining hamstring and groin injuries during Thursday’s Europa League trip to Inter Milan.

Dawson, meanwhile, came off at half-time against Fulham and is now a doubt for Friday’s game against San Marino and the visit to Montenegro the following week.

“Lennon won’t be able to make it,” Villas-Boas said.

“He has been struggling a lot with injuries. We risked him the other day against Inter Milan and he is on the brink of rupturing his muscle so we have decided to take him out of this game. He has groin and hamstring (injuries).”

On Dawson, who picked up a hamstring injury, Villas-Boas said: “He felt his muscle going in the first half.

“If we had brought him on in the second half, we would be risking him a major injury.

“I think Michael will be assessed by the England team doctors. They will be in communication with our medical department to find out if he will make it or not.

“He probably won’t, but it’s something that they have to decide between them.”

The news is a cruel blow for Dawson, who was hoping to make his first international appearance since a 2-0 win over Wales two years ago.