Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has become the fifth injury withdrawal from Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
The Three Lions kick-off their Euro 2020 qualification campaign at home to the Czech Republic on Friday, before heading to Montenegro for their second Group A match on Monday.
Southgate initially named a 25-strong squad for the match, but injuries have taken their toll and Alexander-Arnold has become the latest to drop out.
Press Association Sport understands that the 20-year-old has had a back issue since Liverpool hosted Burnley 10 days ago and reported to St George’s Park in the hope of recovering in time to represent England.
However, the full-back has not managed to overcome the issue and on Wednesday pulled out of the group that is now down to 22 names.
A statement from the Football Association read: “Trent Alexander-Arnold has withdrawn from the England squad and returned to Liverpool.
“The right-back arrived nursing a back injury and, despite progress in recent days, it was unlikely he would be able to play a role in the forthcoming UEFA EURO 2020 qualifiers.
“The 20-year-old will now continue his rehabilitation at his club leaving Gareth Southgate with a 22-man squad.”
Fabian Delph, John Stones, Luke Shaw and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have already pulled out, while Marcus Rashford is reportedly nursing an ankle complaint.
Highly-rated Chelsea teenager Callum Hudson-Odoi has been brought in despite yet having made a league start, with Southgate also turning to in-form Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here