Chris Kirkland’s chances of facing Wolves this weekend are touch and go after he was pulled out of the England under-21 squad with a knee injury.

The 20-year-old Coventry City goalkeeper was due to line up against Holland tonight at Reading’s Madejski Stadium but has been withdrawn after twisting his knee in training.

That may force him out of Sunday’s televised clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers and may earn want-away Swede Magnus Hedman a shock recall to the team.

Hedman, who has been linked with a move to numerous clubs across Europe during the close season, was all set to join Everton last week but that deal hit a glitch as Michael Ball’s proposed £7 million transfer to Rangers was put on ice.

Toffee’s boss Walter Smith wanted to use those funds to prise Hedman away from Coventry but is now being forced to wait for Rangers to seal the Ball transfer before he can make his move for the Sky Blues keeper.

Gordon Strachan even moved in for 38-year-old Andy Goram to act as cover for Kirkland with Hedman set to depart, but now it seems the Swedish number one could be lining up in City’s first outing at Highfield Road this season.

It is cruel luck on Kirkland who made his under-21 debut in a 3-0 win over Mexico back in May but has been plagued by injury close to international matches ever since.

He was due to start against Greece in June but missed out after fracturing his finger. And now he is set to sit out once again in the first game of David Platt’s reign as England under-21 boss.

And worse for the Sky Blues, he may miss out on one of their biggest games of the season at the weekend.