England’s preparations for the upcoming Nations League matches have taken a dramatic turn, with a wave of withdrawals forcing interim manager Lee Carsley to reshape his squad. Eight senior players have pulled out due to injuries and illness, leaving Carsley with a depleted roster ahead of the crucial games against Greece and Republic of Ireland.
The absences have presented an unexpected opportunity for Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers, who has earned his first senior call-up to the national team. Rogers, who joined Villa from Middlesbrough in January, has enjoyed a strong 12 months, scoring six goals in 31 appearances.
Joining Rogers in the revamped squad are a quartet of players who will be hoping to make their mark on the international stage:
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James Trafford:
The Burnley goalkeeper is set to make his senior debut for England after impressing in the Championship.*
Tino Livramento:
The Newcastle defender, who is uncapped at senior level, will be looking to provide solutions for England’s left-back problems.*
Jarrad Branthwaite:
The Everton center-back has been rewarded for his strong performances at club level.*
Jarrod Bowen:
The West Ham winger brings his attacking prowess to the squad.The withdrawals of senior players have created a significant headache for Carsley. Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Jack Grealish, and Phil Foden have all been ruled out.
The injury to Alexander-Arnold is particularly concerning, as the Liverpool defender is set to miss several weeks with a hamstring injury. Arsenal duo Rice and Saka were forced off during their side’s draw with Chelsea on Sunday, adding to England’s injury woes.
Despite the challenges, Carsley remains optimistic about his squad’s prospects. The interim manager will be looking to guide England to victory in both of their upcoming matches. A win over Greece on November 14th in Athens is crucial if England are to top Group B2 and secure automatic promotion to Tier A. However, they could still earn promotion with a second-place finish and a play-off victory.
England’s updated squad for the Nations League matches is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
* Jordan Pickford (Everton)
* Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
* James Trafford (Burnley)
Defenders:
* Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
* Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
* Lewis Hall (Newcastle)
* Rico Lewis (Manchester City)
* Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
* Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton)
* Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton)
* Tino Livramento (Newcastle)
Midfielders:
* Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid)
* Curtis Jones (Liverpool)
* Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
* Angel Gomes (Lille)
* Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
Forwards:
* Noni Madueke (Chelsea)
* Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
* Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
* Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
* Dominic Solanke (Tottenham)
* Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
* Jarrod Bowen (West Ham)
