Brighton captain Lewis Dunk has been forced to withdraw from the England squad for the upcoming matches against Malta and North Macedonia.
Jude Bellingham will also play no part in the Euro 2024 qualifiers because of injury but asked to join up and be part of the camp this coming week. Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham, 19, who is set to join Real Madrid this summer, will continue his rehabilitation at St George’s Park as he recovers from injury.
It is a real blow for Dunk who had waited patiently for an England recall but is now out after a niggling injury issue. He said: “I was proud to be recalled to the England squad. My first England cap remains one of the proudest moments of my career. I never gave up hope, and I hope that opportunity will come again.
“I’m sorry it won’t be this summer but at the end of the season, a few of us had to step up to achieve our aim of European football. A few of us were playing on adrenaline, pushing ourselves through games. I had a couple of injury issues, but our aim was to secure that top-six place and create history.
“I spoke to Gareth Southgate at the end of the season, after we’d achieved that. I explained that I thought I might not be fit in time for the games against Malta and North Macedonia. I didn’t want to mess him around for two important qualifiers for the country.
“He was excellent with me, told me to take as long as possible and give myself the best chance to be part of the squad. I’d like to thank him for that support, and wish the squad well for the two games.”
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England travel to the Mediterranean to face Malta on Friday before returning to host North Macedonia at Old Trafford on Monday. Southgate’s side have a perfect record in Euro 2024 qualifying so far having beaten Italy and Ukraine back in March.
They sit top of Group C with six points and now face the two lower-ranked sides following the end of the domestic season. Aside from Dunk, all the other players in the squad have reported for training at St George’s Park on Sunday.
However, West Ham captain Declan Rice and the players from Manchester City – John Stones, Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish – will arrive later following their respective European finals.
Rice helped West Ham beat Fiorentina 2-1 in Prague on Wednesday to win the Europa Conference League final, while City overcame Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul on Saturday to claim a maiden Champions League title.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United)
Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), James Maddison (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)
