Phil Foden has left the England camp to return home and attend the birth of his third child.
The Manchester City forward, 24, has started all three of England’s games at the European Championship including Tuesday’s goalless draw with Slovenia but is flying back home for what the Football Association said was a “pressing family matter”.
“Phil Foden has temporarily left the England camp and returned to the UK for a pressing family matter,” said an FA spokesperson.
Foden’s long-time partner, Rebecca Cooke, announced earlier this year together with the England international that they were expecting their third child. They are already parents to Ronnie, five, and True, two.
On Wednesday, Gareth Southgate’s squad had a warm-down session at the Blankenhain basecamp after topping Group C with their result on Tuesday in Cologne. They have four days before their last-16 clash in Gelsenkirchen, with the opponents yet to be decided.
Foden is expected to be back for the weekend but may miss some of the preparations for the weekend fixture.
He played until the 89th minute against Slovenia on Tuesday and was replaced by Anthony Gordon. With Cole Palmer also pushing for a wide place, Southgate spoke about the competition among his forwards after the final whistle.
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.
