Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, key players from Arsenal, are among eight England internationals forced to withdraw from the national squad due to injuries.
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Both players left the field late during Arsenal’s recent 1-1 draw with Chelsea, with Rice managing a broken toe and Saka dealing with a leg injury. This series of withdrawals affects England’s upcoming Nations League fixtures.
Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who played a full 90 minutes against Manchester United after training only twice due to a recent knock, has also pulled out. He joins his teammate Levi Colwill, along with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Manchester City stars Phil Foden and Jack Grealish.
Alexander-Arnold, who picked up a hamstring injury against Aston Villa, faces at least two weeks on the sidelines. Grealish, still recovering from a prolonged absence, and Foden were evaluated at St. George’s Park and subsequently excused from duty.
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale also withdrew after sustaining an injury during Southampton’s loss to Wolves.
In response, manager Lee Carsley has called up Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers for his first senior appearance. Jarrod Bowen, Jarrad Branthwaite, Tino Livramento, and James Trafford have also been added to the squad, with England set to travel to Athens to face Greece on Thursday before hosting the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday.