Mark Wood and Mark Footitt in contention to replace James Anderson for fourth Ashes Test

Durham's Mark Wood, Yorkshire all-rounder Liam Plunkett and Derbyshire left-armer Mark Footitt will all be considered to replace James Anderson when the England selectors choose the squad for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia at Trent Bridge on 1 August.

Anderson has been ruled out of the game with a side strain suffered on day two of the eight-wicket third Test win over Australia, which gives England a 2-1 series lead with two matches to play.

The 33-year-old will continue to be assessed before his fitness is determined for the fifth Test at the Oval starting on 20 August but England go into their next duel with Australia without their leading Test wicket-taker.

With 53 wickets at an average of 19.24 and six five-wicket hauls in eight matches in Nottingham, Anderson is the most successful bowler in Test history at Trent Bridge and England's four-man selection panel face a difficult task choosing his replacement.

Chris Rushworth of Durham and Jack Brooks of Yorkshire have both been touted for potential call-ups after taking 69 and 48 wickets each in the County Championship this season. But England coach Trevor Bayliss says the replacement for Anderson will come from the initial 14-man training squad selected before the series.

"The guys around the squad [will replace Anderson]," Bayliss said. "Woody we're still not really sure of but he's improving and hopefully he'll be right for Trent Bridge."

Wood was replaced by eventual man of the match Steven Finn for the second Test following an ankle problem and is therefore the leading contender to start at Trent Bridge should he prove his fitness in time.

Captain Alastair Cook said: "Jimmy and Woody are quite like-for-like. Obviously Mark didn't play in this game because he has a bit of a niggle. Hopefully his recovery and his rehab is going really well. It seems to be that he will be up for selection.

"The selectors have a meeting [on 1 August] to discuss replacements. Obviously it is disappointing. Jimmy's record and every Test match he has played at Trent Bridge is brilliant. I said at the beginning of the week that we have an opportunity as a squad at 1-1 to do something very special in the next three games.

"Now there is an opportunity for someone whoever is lucky enough to replace Jimmy, with the new ball to take his role and it is an opportunity for them to do something very special. It is disappointing and would we like Jimmy to play? Of course we would but it is also an opportunity for someone else and we have to look forward to that rather than what could have been."

Uncapped left-armer Footitt would provide an alternative avenue of attack against a vulnerable Australia batting line-up but his lack of international pedigree makes his selection a risk as England chase the victory that would regain the Ashes.

Meanwhile, Plunkett was included in the England squad for the second Test against New Zealand at Headingley but has not played in the longest form of the game since defeat to India at Lord's in July 2014.

Bayliss has previously indicated England would be open to playing two spinners in the series, with Ben Stokes – who bowled just 11 overs in the third Test – acting as the third seamer. However, the swing and seam assistance that Trent Bridge provides is likely to see Yorkshire's Adil Rashid held back until at least the fifth Test at The Oval, which could see England employ an accomplice to Moeen Ali.