Eight players withdraw from injury-hit England squad | OneFootball

England interim manager Lee Carsley has seen eight players withdraw from his squad for upcoming internationals against Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

The Three Lions are battling to return to the UEFA Nations League top flight in the final pair of fixtures in this phase of the 2024/25 competition, with Carsley also taking charge of his last two matches to make way for new permanent boss Thomas Tuchel in the New Year.

But of the 26 players originally called up last week, only 18 are left.

Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer are all high profile casualties in a huge blow to England's hopes for positive results. Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Levi Colwill and Aaron Ramsdale have also withdrawn from the group.

Bukayo Saka has had to pull out / Ryan Pierse/GettyImages

Five players have been called up as replacements, including Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers for the first time. The 22-year-old had arguably been unfortunate not to make the cut originally after a fine few months at club level, but will now have the chance to make his senior international debut.

West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen, Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento and Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford are the other four added, swelling the numbers available to Carsley back up to 23.

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Burnley).

Defenders: Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Rico Lewis (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Lewis Hall (Newcastle), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton), Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton), Tino Livramento (Newcastle).

Midfielders: Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Angel Gomes (Lille), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa).

Forwards: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham).