COLE AND TERRY MISS MINSK MISSION

Terry - back injury.

England's Chelsea pair John Terry and Ashley Cole will both miss this week's World Cup qualifier away to Belarus because of injury.

Captain Terry has failed to recover from his back problem, and Cole is out with a sore hamstring.

Terry was absent from Saturday's 5-1 win against Kazakhstan at Wembley - which continued England's perfect start of three straight wins from three fixtures in their 2010 qualifying campaign.

Rio Ferdinand stood in for Terry as captain - with Matthew Upson coming in to central defence - in a match which turned ugly for Cole when he was booed by the home crowd after his defensive lapse allowed the minnows to score an unexpected goal.

Wayne Bridge is his likely replacement and he will not need reminding his last competitive appearance for England was the seismic 3-2 home defeat to Croatia last November that cost the Three Lions their place at Euro 2008.

"It's disappointing to lose two very experienced players in John Terry and Ashley Cole for the game in Belarus," said coach Fabio Capello.

"Unfortunately they have no chance of playing, so it is best they return to Chelsea."