Dawson hands England, Spurs major injury setback

Michael Dawson has been ruled out of England’s Euro 2012 clash with Switzerland and will be sidelined for up to eight weeks after spraining knee and ankle ligaments during the 4-0 defeat of Bulgaria.

Tottenham centre-half Dawson was stretchered off midway through the second half of Friday’s game at Wembley and his Premier League club revealed the extent of the injury on Saturday.

“Scans today (Saturday) have revealed that Michael Dawson has sprained his left medial knee ligament and one of his left ankle ligaments,” a statement on the club’s website said.

“The defender is expected to be out of action for six to eight weeks.”

The 26-year-old had already been ruled out of Tuesday’s Group G game against Switzerland in Basel and the English Football Association have confirmed he will not be replaced.

“Following a scan on his knee this morning, Michael Dawson will miss England’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland on Tuesday,” the statement said.

“England and Tottenham Hotspur medical staff were in contact this morning and Dawson has now returned to his club for further treatment. There will be no further call-ups.”

Dawson’s injury was one of the few negatives for England as they launched their qualifying campaign with a convincing defeat of Bulgaria.

The injury looks set to rule Dawson out of the first three games of Tottenham’s Champions League campaign which gets underway with a trip to Germany’s Werder Bremen on September 14.