The Football Association has confirmed that Man City defender Kyle Walker has withdrawn from the England squad due to injury, and has been replaced by club teammate Rico Lewis.
Walker picked up the problem in the first half of the friendly against Brazil on Saturday evening. He attempted to continue after initially going down, but lasted just a few minutes before being replaced by Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa.
After the match, England boss Gareth Southgate confirmed that the City man would be assessed in the next 36 hours after the game after feeling ‘tightness’. England have since confirmed that Walker has left the full-back has now returned to City for assessment ahead of a crucial clash against Arsenal.
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Lewis, who has one senior cap for England, has been drafted into the squad again after initially being called up for the U21s over the international break. He made his international debut against North Macedonia back in November 2023 where he played the full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw.
The 19-year-old has played a total of 21 times for City so far this season. He can play in a number of positions, including central midfield, defensive midfield, and right back.
Lewis could be given the chance to earn his second cap when England take on Belgium at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday night. It will be Southgate’s last chase to assess his players before announcing his initial Euros squad ahead of the summer’s tournament.
Walker has been joined by Harry Maguire and Sam Johnstone in withdrawing from the squad. Former Man City goalkeeper James Trafford has also been given his first senior call-up after being drafted in from the U21s.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
