The Football Association has officially announced that Harry Maguire from Manchester United, Kyle Walker from Manchester City, and Sam Johnstone from Crystal Palace have withdrawn from the England senior squad due to injuries.
Walker was substituted just 20 minutes into England’s friendly loss against Brazil at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening. Following the match, Gareth Southgate confirmed that the full-back would undergo assessment in the “coming days.” Walker has now returned to Manchester City for this assessment.
Similarly, fellow experienced defender Maguire was also substituted during the defeat, exiting the game in the 67th minute. Although the Manchester United center-back had recently been managing an injury concern, he was considered fit enough to play against Brazil. Like Walker, Maguire has been sent back to his club for further assessment of his new injury.
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In their absence, as well as Johnstone’s, manager Southgate has chosen to bring up Rico Lewis and James Trafford from the under-21 set-up.
Lewis has previously featured once for the senior squad, making his debut against North Macedonia in November, while Trafford could potentially earn his first-ever appearance for the senior squad when England faces Belgium at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.
Although Trafford has faced challenges in form at club level recently, being dropped by Burnley in recent weeks, he has consistently performed well at the youth level for England over the years.
In addition to the absences of Maguire, Walker, and Johnstone, Southgate will also be without star forwards Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, both of whom missed the Brazil match due to injury concerns.