Chelsea's Raheem Sterling will miss tonight's England World Cup Round of 16 clash against Senegal so he can attend to a family matter.
The explosive winger was expected to be among Gareth Southgate's substitutes for tonight's clash at the Al Bayt Stadium, but England Football Team's official Twitter page took to social media to announce his absence - just over an hour before the 7pm kick off.
Already on the world radar, Sterling scored in England's opening 6-2 victory over Iran, while retaining his place for a goalless draw against the United States of America, before taking a step back and sitting on the bench in the side's Group B finale against Wales.
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The PA News Agency reports that this evening, the England Twitter account posted: “Raheem Sterling is not available for selection for the #ThreeLions tonight as he is dealing with a family matter.”
Here is tonight's subsequent side to face off against a fearsome Senegal side: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Rice, Bellingham, Henderson, Foden, Saka, Kane.
A victory in Qatar tonight will see the Three Lions advance to the quarter-finals of the World Cup, returning to the Al Bayt on December 10 to take on France. The World Cup winners of 2018 were victorious over Poland in a 3-1 wash-out, with Olivier Giroud opening the proceedings, before Kylian MBappe bagged a brace to secure their place in the next round.
Robert Lewandowski's injury time penalty conversion came as a mere consolation goal for his nation, who left this year's campaign in the Round of 16.
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