Ashton and Johnson are ruled out

LONDON, England -- England strikers Andy Johnson and Dean Ashton have both been ruled out of the Euro 2008 qualifiers at home to Estonia on October 13 and away to Russia four days later.

Ashton damaged a knee during the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Saturday while Johnson, who scored in Everton's 3-2 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday, was having an ankle operation on Monday.

Johnson is expected to be out of action for four weeks.

Ashton who missed all of last season after breaking an ankle when training with England, had made a good start to the current campaign and seemed to have a good chance of playing against Estonia with Emile Heskey unfit.

England received some encouragement when Michael Owen made a speedy return from surgery with a goal for Newcastle.

Owen made an instant impact when he came on for the last 16 minutes just over a week after a double operation to cure hernia and groin problems. E-mail to a friend