Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Englandvs.Belgium

sportsmole.co.uk, 24 March 2024, 20:44
England trio Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire and Sam Johnstone have all withdrawn from the Three Lions' squad ahead of Tuesday's friendly with Belgium, while James Trafford and Rico Lewis have been called up to the senior squad.

Walker and Maguire were both named in the starting lineup for Saturday's clash with Brazil, where Endrick condemned England to their first Wembley defeat since October 2020.

The former's race was run with just 19 minutes on the clock, though, as he tried to play through the pain of an apparent hamstring problem before coming off for debutant Ezri Konsa.

Head coach Gareth Southgate was in the dark about the severity of Walker's issue immediately after the game, although the Manchester City man was hopeful that he had not sustained anything major.

However, ahead of Manchester City's pivotal Premier League clash with title rivals Arsenal on March 31, Walker has now pulled out of the squad and will play no part in the Three Lions' upcoming battle with Belgium.

England confirmed that Walker would continue to receive assessment upon his return to Manchester, but his participation in the showdown with Arsenal on Easter Sunday has now been plunged into even more doubt.

The 33-year-old is one of three players to leave the camp owing to recent injuries, a list which also includes Manchester United's Maguire, who took the captain's armband from Walker upon his teammate's exit on Saturday.

Maguire was substituted with 67 minutes on the clock against Brazil, and while there was no mention of an injury to the 31-year-old on Saturday, he has also picked up an unexplained problem which will require a once-over.

In Maguire's absence, Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite could now come into contention for his senior England debut on Tuesday evening, where Crystal Palace stopper Johnstone will not be present either.

With a spot opening up in the goalkeeping ranks behind Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale, Southgate has promoted Burnley shot-stopper Trafford to the senior ranks for the very first time.

The 21-year-old played every minute for England's Under-21s during their run to Euro 2023 glory and began the 2023-24 Premier League season as Burnley's number one following their promotion from the Championship.

However, Trafford only kept two clean sheets in his first 28 appearances in England's top flight and was dropped for Arijanet Muric for the Clarets' most recent clash with Brentford, which ended in a 2-1 win for Vincent Kompany's side.

Nevertheless, Trafford - who started for Lee Carsley's Young Lions in their 5-1 thrashing of Azerbaijan on Thursday - has been deemed worthy of promotion to the senior setup, as has Manchester City's Lewis.

The 19-year-old - stepping in for his injured clubmate Walker - also made the first XI in that midweek win over Azerbaijan and already has one senior cap to his name, playing the full 90 in November's final Euro 2024 qualifying draw with North Macedonia at left-back.

Southgate has already confirmed that Harry Kane will not be fit to face Belgium either, while Cole Palmer and Jordan Henderson will require late fitness tests.

Top News

17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final match at MAC³PARK Stadion in the 2023-24 Eredivisie season will see PEC Zwolle playing host to Europa League hopefuls FC Twente on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wellington vs. Victory (Saturday, 7.30am) Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory square off in the second leg of the A-League Finals Series semi-finals on Saturday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly dropped their pursuits of Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies and Lille's Leny Yoro. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Almere City and NEC draw the curtain on their respective 2023-24 Eredivisie seasons with a meeting at the Yanmar Stadion on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted he would like to manage in Spain at some point in his career. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AZ Alkmaar will be looking to pick up a fifth straight victory when they entertain the challenge of FC Utrecht at the AFAS Stadion on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With the chance to guarantee their La Liga survival ahead of the final day of the season, Celta Vigo will travel to Los Carmenes to meet already-relegated Granada on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Concluding a triumphant Ligue 1 campaign, Paris Saint-Germain head to the Stade Saint-Symphorien on Sunday to face a Metz side destined to scrap for survival in the relegation playoffs. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly received a major boost in their pursuit of summer target Teun Koopmeiners after Atalanta BC announced their asking price for his signature. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Le Havre are set to take on Marseille at Stade Oceane on Sunday evening in the final matchday of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford midfielder Josh Dasilva has signed a new contract to keep him at the club until at least 2025. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A highly-rated Arsenal academy prospect has confirmed that he will be leaving the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Arsenal will need to act swiftly if they intend to capitalise on the release clause in Jeremie Frimpong's Bayer Leverkusen contract, according to a report. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea could be without as many as seven players for their final Premier League fixture of the season at home against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will endeavour to end the 2023-24 campaign on a high by qualifying for European competition when they welcome Bournemouth to Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sevilla will look to bounce back from consecutive defeats when they travel to San Mames for Sunday's La Liga clash with Athletic Bilbao. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea's Cole Palmer has won the Premier League's Young Player of the Season award for the 2023-24 season following an incredible breakthrough campaign. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sixth-placed Lens are set to take on 12th-placed Montpellier HSC in the final game of the 2023-24 Ligue 1 season at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Sunday evening. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Galatasaray have the chance to seal the Turkish Super Lig title when they host arch-rivals and closest challengers Fenerbahce at Rams Park on Sunday. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has confirmed that he is leaving the club at the end of the season. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof and Anthony Martial are all training with Manchester United ahead of the team's final match of the 2023-24 Premier League season against Brighton & Hove Albion. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Napoli have reportedly entered the race to sign Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood during this summer's transfer window. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two midtable sides will go head-to-head when Alaves welcome Getafe to Mendizorroza for Saturday's La Liga contest. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Playing their final home fixture of a stellar Serie A season, champions Inter Milan welcome Lazio to San Siro on Sunday evening. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be without first-choice goalkeeper Ederson for Sunday's Premier League title decider against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For just the third time in the last 11 years, the Premier League title race will be decided on the final day, with reigning champions Manchester City looking to retain their crown at home against West Ham United on Sunday afternoon. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale has reportedly agreed a move to Newcastle United during this summer's transfer window. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly held discussions over the signing of Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk ARSENAL Gameweek 38 opponents: Everton (H) Out: None Doubtful: Jurrien Timber (knee) ASTON VILLA Gameweek 38 opponents: Palace (A) Out: Emiliano Buendia (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee), Boubacar Kamara (knee), Jacob Ramsey (toe), Morgan Rogers (hamstring), Matty Cash (calf), Youri Tielemans (groin), Nicolo Zaniolo (foot) Doubtful: None Unai Emery quotes: "Zaniolo broke his metatarsal and it is bad news. 17 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus have sacked head coach Massimiliano Allegri just two days after Wednesday's Coppa Italia triumph.