Andy Carroll pulls out of England squad because of injury

Liverpool striker Andy Carroll has withdrawn from the England squad for the upcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

No-one will be drafted in to replace the 24-year-old who has been ruled out because of a heel injury.

Carroll ended the season as West Ham's leading goalscorer after finding the net seven times during a season-long loan with the Londoners.

England host the Republic on 29 May before playing Brazil in Rio on 2 June.

Carroll joins captain Steven Gerrard and Arsenal's Jack Wilshere on the list of absentees for the matches which are being regarded as warm-ups for September's Word Cup qualifying games against Moldova and Ukraine.

By the time England's squad meet in September, Carroll could be a West Ham player after the Londoners and Liverpool agreed a fee of around £15m for the 6ft 3in striker.

Manager Roy Hodgson has opted not to call up a replacement and will rely on Manchester United pair Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck, plus Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge and Tottenham's Jermain Defoe.

England's squad are expected to meet at St George's Park on Sunday.

Hodgson should know by then whether Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley will be available after he suffered a calf injury during Manchester United's 5-5 draw at West Brom.