Jude Bellingham and Levi Colwill injuries add to England absences

Jude Bellingham and Levi Colwill have been ruled out of the upcoming England Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia. Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham and Chelsea defender Colwill are the latest players to withdraw from Gareth Southgate’s squad due to shoulder injuries.

James Maddison, Callum Wilson, and Lewis Dunk also withdrew from England duty on Monday due to injuries, and were replaced by Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis, and Ezri Konsa.

Southgate has opted not to call up any new faces, leaving the England manager with a 23-player squad for the upcoming matches.

In a further update, Marcus Rashford and Kalvin Phillips will join the England squad later this week due to “personal matters,” according to an England statement.

England’s place at next summer’s Euro 2024 finals in Germany is already secured, but Southgate will aim for victories in both games to ensure England are one of the top seeds in the Euro 2024 draw next month in Germany.

Updated England squad for Malta and North Macedonia fixtures

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Fikayi Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)

Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Rico Lewis (Manchester City)

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)