Fabian Delph and Phil Jones have withdrawn from the England squad with manager Gareth Southgate calling up Tottenham’s Harry Winks to the squad to cover for the absences.
The news will be a blow to Delph in particular whose last England cap was almost two years ago and had earned a recall to the national team squad after a series of impressive performances this season including a wonder-goal against Crystal Palace last weekend.
Fabian Delph has withdrawn from the @England squad.
Read: https://t.co/D87pc4jyjU #mancity pic.twitter.com/oMzKqDY6xG
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 2, 2017
Phil Jones had also sat out England training along with Delph, who had been selected to offer competition in midfield rather than as a genuine option at left back, where Ryan Bertrand is expected to start this Thursday.
Both players have returned to their parent clubs where they will be assessed.
Midfielder Dele Alli is suspended for England’s World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Wembley on Thursday and Winks, who played in Spurs’ comprehensive 4-0 win at Huddersfield Town last weekend – his second consecutive start – was named in the senior squad for the first time.
Gareth Southgate has added @HarryWinks to his #ThreeLions squad, with @PhilJones4 and Fabian Delph withdrawing: https://t.co/1DiLTFbVRx
— England (@England) October 2, 2017
Amended England Squad to face Slovenia and Lithuania
Goalkeepers
Joe Hart (West Ham United, on loan from Manchester City), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jack Butland (Stoke City).
Defenders
Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United), John Stones (Manchester City), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Michael Keane (Everton).
Midfielders
Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool).
Forwards
Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Jermain Defoe (AFC Bournemouth).
(Dele Alli suspended for the Slovenia game)
England’s remaining World Cup Fixtures
England v Slovenia will be played at Wembley on Thursday, October 5.
Lithuania v England will be played in Vilnius on Sunday, October 8.