In a setback for the England squad, Jude Bellingham and Levi Colwill have been forced to withdraw from the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia due to shoulder injuries. This adds to the growing list of absentees, with a total of five players now sidelined for the crucial games on November 17 and 20.
Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham and Chelsea defender Colwill join the casualty list, prompting manager Gareth Southgate to make further adjustments. On Monday, Cole Palmer, Ezri Konsa, and Rico Lewis were called up to replace the injured trio of James Maddison, Callum Wilson, and Lewis Dunk.
Adding to the intricacies, Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford and Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips are set to join the squad later in the week, albeit for personal reasons. Despite the challenges, Southgate has opted not to make any additional additions to the squad for the upcoming matches.
With England having already secured their spot in the 2024 European Championship, the focus now shifts to securing top spot in Group C. A single victory in the upcoming qualifiers will solidify their position as one of the top seeds in the tournament hosted by Germany next summer. The pressure is on as the Three Lions look to navigate through these obstacles and maintain their momentum on the road to Euro 2024.
