Curb-ing Young fears

England job wannabe Alan Curbishley has played down worries that his Charlton right-back Luke Young will miss the World Cup finals due to an ankle injury.

The 26-year-old had hinted his season could be over after sustaining the injury earlier this month against West Ham. But Curbishley says the extent of the problem hasn't yet been established.

He said: "I'm a bit put out by this story and so is Luke. He's been wearing a protective boot since he got the injury and he's been having treatment.

"We're pleased with his progress. He's seeing a specialist and we're hopeful he won't be too far away.

"Talk he'll be out for four or five weeks, for the rest of the season or even for the World Cup is very premature.

We think he's got a good chance of coming back before the end of the season.

"He sustained the injury when his foot gave way as he went to clear. He turned it and the problem is just above the ankle.

"He had a similar injury before which responded to an injection and we may take the short cut of giving him the injection a little bit earlier this time.

"But we're fairly confident it's not as serious as it looked and hopefully he'll be back in a couple of weeks."

And then he's got to get selected, of course.