Lescott called up to England squad as injury rules out Tottenham duo Dawson & Lennon

Mar 17, 2013 8:09:00 PM

The Manchester City defender brought in to replace the Spurs centre-back despite being initially overlooked, as the Three Lions prepare for two crucial World Cup qualifiers

Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has been called up to the England squad for this week's World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro following the withdrawl of Tottenham duo Michael Dawson and Aaron Lennon.

Lescott was initially left out of the squad by Roy Hodgson because of a lack of first-team action in Roberto Mancini's side, but has been named as a replacement for Dawson, who was substituted at half-time of Spurs' 1-0 defeat to Fulham with a hamstring problem.

"[Dawson] felt his hamstring muscle going in the first half," Andre Villas-Boas told Sky Sports. "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."

Lennon missed out against Fulham entirely after making a late cameo at Inter in the Europa League on Thursday, and Villas-Boas said that a number of problems were preventing him from joining up with the national team.

"Lennon won't make it," Villas-Boas added. "He has been struggling a lot with injuries.

"We risked him the other day against Inter and he is on the brink of rupturing his muscles so we have decided to take him out of this game. He as groin and hamstring (injuries)."

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