ENGLAND Under 21 boss David Platt last night called up Charlton's Paul Konchesky after a spate of injury problems are threatening to hamper his preparations for Friday night's crunch European qualifier with Greece at Ewood.

Owen Hargreaves was forced to drop out of Platt's squad yesterday as they reported for training at Rovers' Brockhall Academy after picking up a knee injury in Bayern Munich's 4-0 win over Stuttgart on Sunday.

And Derby's Seth Johnson and Ipswich defender Titus Bramble have already pulled out with hamstring and Achilles problems respectively.

On top of that, Platt is also sweating on the fitness of Fulham's Sean Davis, Charlton's Scott Parker and Arsenal's Francis Jeffers.

"Seth Johnson has pulled out with a hamstring problem and Titus Bramble has injured his Achilles which is a blow for us," said Platt.

"On top of that, Sean Davis has a knock on his ankle and Scott Parker has an illness.

"So we'll have to see how everyone is today before I can fully assess the situation."

England must beat the Greeks on Friday to guarantee a place in the play-offs for the finals in May.

And Platt has spoken about the challenge of keeping his players focused after they experienced mixed fortunes at the weekend.

"The mood is optimistic but it's always strange when we first meet up," said Platt.

"Our pressman told me yesterday that there are 19 clubs represented in the squad and at the weekend some will have got beat and some will have won.

"So some are smiling on Monday and some have long faces but once they get on the training pitch you've got to get them working again.

"Yesterday's session was bright and bubbly but functional as well.

"The fact it's a very big game should help to focus everyone but, in fairness to the players, they've been like that ever since I took over."

David Dunn only took part in light training yesterday after featuring in Rovers' 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa 24 hours earlier.

Trevor Sinclair admits former West Ham team-mate Frank Lampard will be "devastated" by his exclusion from the England squad but is aiming to make the most of his own first call-up by Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Lampard was left out of the squad for this weekend's World Cup qualifier against Greece in the wake of his drunken antics the day after the terrorist attacks on the United States.

With West Ham midfielder Michael Carrick relegated to the Under-21s, while Joe Cole and David James are out injured, it was left to Sinclair to provide Upton Park's representation in the senior party joining up today.

Sinclair, 28, ended a three-year international exile with his call-up by Keegan against Belgium in October 1999 but was only included on the bench a couple of times before losing his place in the squad again.

The winger has not yet been capped by his country but his pace and versatility on either flank have nevertheless finally led to his first summons by Eriksson.

"Like everyone who is English, I wanted to be in the squad. You've got to be in it to play," said Sinclair.

"Obviously the Frank Lampard issue is a delicate one and, knowing him as well as I do, he will be devastated.

"There is no way I could ever contemplate Frank doing something to upset people who are already devastated by what happened in America.

"I'm sure that wasn't done on purpose, it's something that might have gone a bit wrong on a night out. I have a bit of sympathy for him as well as he has paid a heavy price."

England's main injury concern remains over keeper David Seaman, whose chances of starting Saturday's game were rated in one report as only "50-50".