Tues Blues News

Andy Johnson will miss England's European Championship Qualifiers with Macedonia on Saturday and Croatia on Wednesday.

The Premiership's top scorer came off towards the end of the Man City game on Saturday after he felt something go in his hamstring.

He had a scan on it on Sunday morning which revealed he had strained it and would have to miss the England games.

David Moyes reckons he'll be able to resume training in about 10 days…just enough time for him to sharpen up before the Middlesbrough game on the 14^th.

He was looking likely to start at least one of the qualifying matches after Steve McLaren admitted that he was forcing his way into the side after a flying start to the season.

The England boss stated: "When you look at the strikers, Jermain (Defoe) has come in and played and done very well when he's played with Peter Crouch.”

He added: "But for me Andy Johnson is the one who is really coming through."

And, while it would have been great to have an Everton player to cheer on, it's better that players don't travel on the off chance that they might shake off injury as it generally just exacerbates the problem.

You just have to look at what has happened to Michael Owen due to his insistence that he play in international matches when he has been patently unfit to see that.

In other international news, Lee Carsley has made himself available for selection for the Republic of Ireland squad but has, thankfully from an Everton point of view, been omitted from their squad.

We only started to see the best of Carsley when he quit the international game in 2004/05 and, hopefully, if he does start playing international football again, this won't interfere with his form when playing for Everton.

In non-international news, Joey Barton's mooning incident is being investigated by both the FA and Merseyside Police.

Some fans made complaints to the police after he dropped his shorts and made hand gestures towards the crowd after Saturday's draw with Man City and the referee included it in his match report.

So he could be facing a bit of trouble on two fronts but should it really go that far?

I've got no time for the man myself as, despite seeming to be a decent player, there have been just too many instances of him acting like a whopper.

But, after taking stick all game about his brother, is he not entitled to have a go back at the crowd?

And is it the same people that always complained about Fowler ‘inciting the crowd' that are still complaining about players like Barton?

If so, can you pack it in because it makes us look like right whingers!

And remember to keep it here for yesterday's news today!