Aaron Lennon breaks down in training for Tottenham
• Winger out of action since December with groin strain
• New setback a concern for Fabio Capello and England
Aaron Lennon has added to Fabio Capello’s concerns before the World Cup by breaking down in training, further delaying his return to first-team action.
Lennon has been out of action since the end of December with a groin strain that was expected to keep him out for only a few weeks. But the injury has persisted and, although Lennon returned to training last week, the Tottenham manager, Harry Redknapp, says the winger suffered a setback in a practice session yesterday that will cause him to miss tomorrow’s north London derby against Arsenal.
Lennon is generally regarded as England’s first-choice right-winger but Capello, who names his preliminary 30-man squad for the World Cup next month before cutting it down to 23 players on 1 June, will be loth to select someone who has not played in 2010.
“He trained yesterday and had a bit of a setback again,” said Redknapp. “Hopefully he’ll be fit for the World Cup. I hope he’s fit to play for Tottenham first and foremost.
“He’s sore again. He’s come out in training and felt a bit sore after. So I don’t know. We just have to keep our fingers crossed but it’s been a long time.”
Capello has already lost one right midfielder, David Beckham to injury and will be desperate not to lose another. Lennon is battling with Theo Walcott, James Milner and Shaun Wright-Phillips for a place on the plane to South Africa.
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