Garth Crooks believes that Chelsea and England captain John Terry should be left out of the England squad to face Spain and Sweden in the side's upcoming international friendlies.

The 30-year-old has been at the centre of a racism row with Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, resulting in separate investigations by the Football Association and the Metropolitan Police.

While the centre-back is expected to be included in Fabio Capello's squad, Crooks thinks that the decision to play him will alert a "media circus".

"When England play international games there is a media circus that follows it," Crooks told talkSPORT. "If John Terry is picked the band wagon will be like nothing you've ever seen. It's not proven one way or the other.

"These are two friendlies, we've already qualified. Why would you subject the rest of the team to this media circus?"

The Italian boss is expected to announce his final squad on Sunday evening.