Steven Gerrard has pulled out of the England squad for tonight’s friendly with Holland in Amsterdam.

The Liverpool skipper trained on Monday but felt a slight soreness in his groin and has withdrawn as a precaution.

The remainder of Fabio Capello’s squad was able to make the short flight to the Netherlands, where they were put through their paces at the Amsterdam Arena last night.

Goalkeeper Ben Foster has already been replaced by Joe Hart after hurting his knee in Manchester United’s Community Shield defeat to Chelsea on Sunday.

Coming just three days ahead of his side’s opening Premier League fixture at Tottenham, Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will no doubt welcome the decision to adopt a cautious stance over Gerrard’s fitness.

The midfielder is a key component of the Reds’ attempts to end a 19-year league title drought.

However, Gerrard has been plagued by muscular problems in the past. Benitez will desperately hope to have his talisman available at White Hart Lane, especially as he also has defensive problems with doubts over Jamie Carragher, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel.