England suffered their third injury setback of the European Under-21 Championship when Alex Pritchard was ruled out by an ankle injury.
The Tottenham midfielder was withdrawn during the 1-0 win over Sweden on Sunday and scans have revealed significant damage.
England had already lost Saido Berahino to a knee injury in training before the team’s opening game against Portugal and suspected concussion cost the services of John Stones for that game and the Sweden match. Stones is fit to return in the make-or-break final group game with Italy on Wednesday.
Pritchard, who spent last season on loan at Brentford, had impressed during a substitute appearance against Portugal and when promoted to the starting XI for the win over Sweden, although his replacement against the Swedes, Jesse Lingard, contributed the only goal of the game.
Though Wolves’ Benik Afobe was called up to replace Berahino, no player can be called into a squad to replace Pritchard as competition rules prevent that possibility after a team’s first match in the tournament.
