Injuries have struck the England squad as Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and Manchester City captain Kyle Walker have been sidelined. The pair sustained injuries during England’s 1-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday at Wembley. Walker, 33, was replaced by Ezri Konsa after just 20 minutes in the first half due to an injury, while Maguire, 31, was substituted by Lewis Dunk in the 67th minute.
As a precautionary measure, both players have left the England camp and will be assessed by their respective clubs. This means that they will miss the upcoming game against Belgium on Tuesday. Crystal Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who was on the bench as an unused substitute during the Brazil match, has also withdrawn from the squad as a precaution.
To fill in the gaps left by the injured players, Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford and Manchester City defender Rico Lewis have been called up from the under-21 squad to join the senior side. However, their inclusion might raise concerns as Manchester City is set to face league leaders Arsenal on March 31, while Manchester United will travel to Brentford on March 30.
In addition to Maguire and Walker, another player who will be missing the Belgium game is Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka. The Athletic reported earlier this week that Saka had withdrawn from the England squad as a precaution. Despite being named in Gareth Southgate’s initial 25-man squad, Saka has returned to Arsenal for the remainder of the international break.
Furthermore, it has been confirmed that England striker Harry Kane will also be absent from the match against Belgium due to an ankle injury. The 30-year-old captain sat out the defeat to Brazil after colliding with a goalpost in Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga win over Darmstadt on March 16.
These absences from the England squad highlight the lack of depth in certain positions. While there is strength within the team, the injuries to key players like Maguire, Walker, Saka, and Kane reveal that there may be a need for more depth in certain positions. This is an area that Gareth Southgate will need to address as he prepares for future fixtures.
Despite the setbacks, England will face Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday. It will be a test of the squad’s resilience and an opportunity for other players to step up and make their mark. As the international break continues, fans will be eagerly watching to see how the team performs without some of its key players.