Rustenburg, South Africa: With injuries ravaging England's defense, Matthew Upson could have expected to be starting the team's second World Cup match against Algeria.
But the 31-year-old center back, who was a regular starter in qualifying — deputizing for Rio Ferdinand or John Terry when injuries struck — finds himself way down the pecking order.
First Ledley King returned to the England fold despite chronic knees problems. And when the Tottenham captain was injured in Saturday's 1-1 draw with the United States, Jamie Carragher was called on despite only ending his self-imposed three-year England exile on the eve of the World Cup.
That would indicate Carragher is in line to start in Friday's Group C match in Cape Town.
"It is frustrating not to get on — I am desperate to play my part," Upson said. "I have to be patient, keep focussed and keep working hard in training. That has been my focus since I have been here. That is not going to change for the duration of the tournament. I just have to get my head down and be patient.
"I have been ready since day one. That is the key. As long as I am ready everything else is outside my control."
The Football Association has yet to confirm the true extent of King's injury, but club manager Harry Redknapp has suggested he may not be able to play again in South Africa.
"He's not too bad," said Michael Dawson, King's teammate for club and country. "Unfortunately, he'll miss this Friday's game but hopefully not too much longer."
The pressure is on the England players to deliver against Algeria, after an unimpressive start to the tournament that put Fabio Capello's tactics and selections under intense scrutiny back in England.
"We need to get out there and play again," Upson said. "We need to put in a good team performance and keep improving as a group and as a team as the tournament goes on. We are keen to give the country a lift. Everyone wants to go out there and do as well as they can.
"The key to it is relaxing. If we do that, we have the talent and ability to win. We just have to let it flow."
The players are trying to quickly get to grips with Algeria's tactics before leaving their Rustenburg base.
"It will probably be a different style of game on Friday," Upson said during a visit to the SOS Village for orphans near England's Rustenburg World Cup base. "Watching Saturday's match reminded me a little bit of an English game. The ball was in the air a large amount and there were a lot of physical challenges.
"It will be slightly different against Algeria. They will get the ball on the floor a lot more and pass. It probably will be more of a possession and a tactical game."
In a boost before the game, striker Wayne Rooney and left back Ashley Cole resumed full training on Tuesday after missing the previous day's session in the wake the U.S. match.
Rooney received a kick to the ankle Saturday, while Cole usually takes an extra day of rest after matches.
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