Terry effectively ruled out

Captain John Terry has effectively been ruled out of England's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan after missing training on Friday morning.

The Chelsea skipper has not taken part in any of the sessions in the build-up to Saturday's Group Six meeting at Wembley, after aggravating a back injury during his side's victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League last weekend.

His absence will lead to vice-captain Rio Ferdinand taking the captain's armband in a new-look central defensive partnership alongside either Wes Brown, Joleon Lescott or Matthew Upson.

Everton defender Lescott is the favourite to receive the nod after deputising for the injured Ferdinand during last month's victory over Andorra.

However, Upson could be selected after impressing Capello for West Ham United this season, while Brown is a team-mate of Ferdinand at Manchester United, although more used to playing at right-back rather than at the centre of defence.

Meanwhile, Capello seems set to unleash a three-pronged strikeforce on Kazakhstan.

Theo Walcott, who scored a hat-trick in September's 4-1 qualifying win over Croatia, is likely to be given a more offensive role alongside Wayne Rooney as they look to support central striker Emile Heskey.