England squad ravaged by eight player withdrawals

Lee Carsley calls up Morgan Rogers, Jarrod Bowen, Jarrad Branthwaite, Tino Livramento and James Trafford to plug the gaps

Lee Carsley has seen his final squad as England interim manager ravaged by injuries and withdrawals after eight players pulled out of the games against Greece and Republic of Ireland.
Manchester City pair Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill have all withdrawn, along with Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold and Southampton goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Grealish’s withdrawal may cause some embarrassment for the Football Association and Carsley, whose claim that they were fully in contact with City and their expectation that the player would be fit was instantly rejected by Pep Guardiola.
Carsley has handed a first senior call-up to Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and has also called Jarrod Bowen, Jarrad Branthwaite, Tino Livramento and James Trafford into his squad that now stands at 23 players for the two games.
The number of withdrawals is among the highest ever recorded and beats the six players who initially pulled out of England’s squad last November. Bowen’s withdrawal between the Malta and North Macedonia games took that tally to seven in 2023 and it remains to be seen whether more players are forced to drop out during this international break.
Kyle Walker has not been 100 per cent fit for City, while Anthony Gordon was forced off during Newcastle United’s victory over Nottingham Forest, but they have reported for England duty and are with the squad – at least for now.
The staggering number of withdrawals will cause more debate over the amount of games players are being asked to play in and also the FA’s decision to allow incoming permanent manager Thomas Tuchel to start work on Jan 1.
Carsley has been allowed to remain in interim charge of the senior England team for this camp, after which he will return to his post as head coach of the Under-21s.
With John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo already out, Carsley has huge problems heading into the vital Nations League game against Greece in Athens on Thursday night.
Having been defeated by Greece at Wembley, when Carsley fielded an experimental team and formation, England have to win in Athens to stand any chance of topping their group and avoiding a play-off for finishing second.
Palmer reported to St George’s Park on Monday, but has withdrawn after limping his way out of Stamford Bridge with a knee problem following a 90-minute performance against Arsenal.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had revealed that Rice, who played through the pain barrier with a broken toe, and Saka, who suffered a late injury, asked to come off in the draw with Chelsea.
On Grealish’s inclusion in Carsley’s initial squad, City manager Guardiola had said: “Jack trained today [Friday] and believes he can help us – I’m not the guy to say you cannot go [on international duty]. But for my team, he’s not fit. He cannot play. All I can say is that for a couple of days over two weeks he didn’t train but the people from England believe he can help them. So go.
“They can select who they want. All I’d say is the day after Wolves, he was injured, 17 days out and today [Friday] was the first training with the team.”
Guardiola sarcastically added: “The manager from the UK knows better than me.”