Manchester United defender Gary Neville has been ruled out for up to five weeks, meaning he will miss England's World Cup qualifiers, away to Wales on the 3rd September, and at home against Austria on the 8th September.

Neville, 30, tore a groin muscle during the English Premiership club's Champions League qualifier against Debrecen on Wednesday.

"He will be out for four to five weeks," said Manchester Utd's manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

"It was a typical groin injury you suffer on pitches like that. The soft surface, unusual for this time of year, contributed to it, but things like this happen, especially early on in the season."

This will leave the door open for the next natural choice, Liverpool's Jamie Carragher, to take up his position in the team for his country.

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