BLACKBURN midfielder David Dunn today missed out on a World Cup call-up after Danny Murphy became the latest victim of England's injury jinx.

Dunn and fellow Under 21 international Alan Smith are now waiting in the wings if the squad suffer any further injury problems in the next seven days.

And if the Rovers youngster does get summoned then he's ready to seize his chance with both hands.

"Obviously, I'm gutted for Danny Murphy and my heart goes out to him at the moment because to suffer an injury like that at this stage is a devastating blow," said Dunn, speaking exclusively to the Evening Telegraph this morning.

"However, if I did get the call then I'm confident I wouldn't let anyone down."

England boss Sven Goran Eriksson's worst fears were confirmed earlier this morning when Murphy was ruled out of the finals after falling prey to the same foot injury as David Beckham.

The Liverpool midfielder, who was only called into the squad as a last-minute replacement for crocked Anfield team-mate Steven Gerrard, was forced to pull out after scans revealed he had fractured the second metatarsal bone of his left foot.

Eriksson immediately responded to the news by recalling West Ham winger Trevor Sinclair from stand-by in England.

Murphy's injury blow was confirmed after a four-hour wait following a scan carried out by the England medical staff at a Korean hospital.

The former Crewe star will now fly back to England in the next 24 hours.

Football Association spokesman Paul Newman said: "We can confirm that Danny Murphy has sustained a fractured foot.

"The bone that is injured is the second metatarsal, the same bone as David Beckham.

"Efforts are now being made to make arrangements for Danny to be flown home and for a replacement to be brought in."

Eriksson immediately announced Sinclair as the man to replace him in a press conference this morning.

The West Ham winger only landed at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday evening after asking to return home when he was not named in the official squad.

Eriksson reluctantly agreed and Sinclair will now have to get used to the time difference all over again after yet another punishing long-haul flight to the Far East.

However, Blackburn boss Graeme Souness would rather have seen Dunn on the plane to Japan after recently urging Eriksson to call the Under 21 skipper into his original squad.

"I know David Dunn will play for England one day, whether it's at this one or the next World Cup," said Souness.

"I've seen a change in him over the last few months. He's now less likely to try schoolyard stuff.

"He has learned to be a proper midfield player, and if I was Sven, then I'd give him a go because he has got the ability in the last third of the field that very few players have.

"He has natural strength, he can get up and down the park and he can pass the ball accurately.

"But what he has , and I can't think of any other England midfielder who does the same, is he can take people on and make things happen in the final third.

"So, yes, Sven should take him."