Soccer-England's Johnson to miss first two World Cup qualifiers

England winger Adam Johnson has

pulled out of the squad to play Moldova and Ukraine in the

upcoming World Cup qualifiers due to injury, the Football

Association (FA) said on Wednesday.

 "Johnson had a scan on Wednesday after picking up a minor

thigh injury, and has returned to Sunderland," the FA said on

 Johnson, who recently moved to Sunderland from fellow

Premier League club Manchester City, was back in the squad after

missing manager Roy Hodgson's selection for Euro 2012.

 England, who play in Moldova in qualifying Group H on Friday

before returning home to play Ukraine at Wembley Stadium on

Tuesday, have also lost defender Ashley Cole and striker Andy

Carroll in recent days.