MANCHESTER United midfielder Michael Carrick has been ruled out of England’s World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra with a foot injury.

Aston Villa winger James Milner has been called up from the England Under-21 squad as the replacement.

Milner’s inclusion brings the total number of Villa players in the squad to four.

England face Kazakhstan on Saturday and boss Fabio Capello has admitted to fears over Theo Walcott suffering tiredness for the World Cup but is hopeful the winger is young enough to remain fresh after a year without significant rest.

Capello has sanctioned Walcott’s involvement in the Under-21 European Championships this summer after the qualifiers with the seniors against Kazakhstan and Andorra, meaning the 20-yearold would normally have only a week off before returning to pre-season training with Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger, who has been strongly opposed to Walcott playing for the under-21s, is now likely to delay his youngster’s return but he will still have a much shorter rest period compared to his England team-mates.

Capello also feels Walcott’s four months out with a dislocated shoulder last season will counter any possible burnout, but he accepts tiredness could be a issue.

‘‘Yes, but he is young,’’ Capello said. ‘‘Stuart Pearce spoke with the players and the player was happy to play with the under-21s.

‘‘I also understand Arsene because he said he needed to take a holiday. But he did not play during the winter. His holiday was in the winter.’’ Walcott’s situation highlights the issue of which countries will be best prepared for next year’s World Cup, with England among the countries not benefiting from a winter break.

‘‘When you arrive at the end of the season you are not fresh,’’ Capello said. ‘‘It is a very long season, here more than the other countries because we have one competition more and in the last three or four years the most important teams, the big four, have been in the semi-final of the Champions League.

‘‘I know that not only physically but also mentally you have to be very, very strong for this period and you spend a lot of energy.

‘‘In Germany there is a midseason break where play is suspended for one month, then play Sunday-Wednesday, Sunday-Wednesday after that.

This is very important.

‘‘Here at Christmas you have to play.”

Capello can effectively start preparing for South Africa if England get wins against Kazakhstan next weekend, then Andorra the following Wednesday.

‘‘If we get six points it is a very big step to South Africa,’’ Capello said.