Michael Dawson has happily abandoned his holiday plans to be part of England's World Cup squad after being called up as a replacement for injured skipper Rio Ferdinand.

The Tottenham central defender was axed from the provisional squad of 30 but has made the 23-strong final party after Ferdinand was forced out with a knee ligament injury.

Dawson told Tottenham's official website: He said: "For Rio to get injured, there would be no worse feeling for him as a player. To miss the biggest tournament in the world as the captain, I feel for him."