Injury worries

England could be without two stars for next week's Sweden friendly

MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- England captain David Beckham may miss his side's friendly international against Sweden next week because of heavy bruising to his right leg.

Beckham sustained the injury during Real Madrid's 4-2 win over Monaco in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday and did not train with the rest of the squad on Friday.

Club doctor Juan Carlos Hernandez said Beckham was unlikely to play in Sunday's league match at home to Sevilla.

"We have very little time," he said. "Today he was limping quite badly and although he will try it out tomorrow we are not going to force it."

The club said on its Web site that if the 28-year-old midfielder did not make the Sevilla game he would travel to England to be checked over by FA medical staff but would not play against Sweden.

Liverpool striker Michael Owen may also miss the match after injuring a hamstring in his side's 2-1 UEFA Cup defeat at Olympique Marseille on Thursday.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson names his squad on Saturday for the Euro 2004 warmup in Gothenburg on Wednesday.

Copyright 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.