England manager Gareth Southgate says an injury crisis has forced him to name players for matches against Slovenia and Lithuania who do not “warrant their place” in the squad, based on current performances.
The Daily Telegraph reports Southgate, who named his 26-man squad for the World Cup qualifying matches yesterday, did not specify which players he was referring to.
Players on the England injury list include Jamie Vardy, Ross Barkley, Danny Rose, Adam Lallana, Danny Welbeck, Nathaniel Chalobah, Tom Heaton, Nathaniel Clyne and Danny Drinkwater.
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Southgate said: “It’s frustrating because the biggest story here is we’ve got about 12 players missing with injury. It’s incredible. If you were to say, ‘Am I entirely happy with the squad I’ve named?’ then no, because we’ve got too many good players missing with injury.
“The consequence of that is you could well argue there are one or two in the squad who haven’t necessarily warranted it on their performances.
“I want competition for places and this time maybe we’ve not be able to achieve that because of the number of injuries.”
England, who need one win to secure their place at the 2018 Fifa World Cup finals in Russia, will also be without Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli for the match against Slovenia. He has been banned by Fifa for one match after his middle-finger gesture against Slovakia.
Meanwhile, Southgate has told his players that if the Three Lions reach next year’s finals in Russia they won’t be allowed on any nights out.
The Times reports the England boss will not impose a curfew, but says nights out are a no-no for his players.
Southgate said: “I can’t see, in a tournament, where we would be letting them go out at night.
“I can see why time with their families would be important but there has been no tournament I’ve been to where we have had a night out.”
England face Slovenia next Thursday at Wembley (7.45pm) then travel to Lithuania on 8 October (5pm) in their final World Cup qualifying matches.
Full England squad to face Slovenia and Lithuania
Goalkeepers
- Joe Hart (West Ham, on loan from Manchester City)
- Fraser Forster (Southampton)
- Jack Butland (Stoke)
- Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Defenders
- Ryan Bertrand (Southampton)
- Aaron Cresswell (West Ham)
- Gary Cahill (Chelsea)
- Phil Jones (Manchester United)
- Harry Maguire (Leicester)
- John Stones (Manchester City)
- Michael Keane (Everton)
- Chris Smailling (Manchester United)
- Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
- Kieran Trippier (Tottenham)
Midfielders
- Eric Dier (Tottenham)
- Fabian Delph (Manchester City)
- Jake Livermore (West Brom)
- Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
- Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool)
- Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
- Dele Alli (Tottenham - suspended for the match against Slovenia)
Strikers
- Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
- Harry Kane (Tottenham)
- Jermain Defoe (Bournemouth)
- Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)
