LONDON, Oct 8: Injured England strikers Andy Johnson and Dean Ashton have been ruled out of Euro 2008 qualifiers at home to Estonia and in Russia on October 13 and 17.

The 26-year-old Johnson, who scored in Everton’s 3-2 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday, will miss both internationals because of an injury to his right ankle which has been hampering him the last few weeks.

He will be having an operation on Monday and will be out of action for at least four weeks.

The 23-year-old West Ham forward Ashton hurt his knee against Aston Villa on Saturday and has officially pulled out of the squad.

Ashton had been making his return to the international scene after being out of the reckoning for more than a year.—AFP