Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Marcus Rashford has been ruled out of England's upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Montenegro due to injury.
Standard Sport reported earlier on Thursday that Rashford was a major doubt to face Czech Republic at Wembley on Friday night after missing group training on Thursday morning with an ankle injury.
The Manchester United striker instead underwent a separate indoor session at St George’s Park this morning away from the rest of the squad, but Southgate has now confirmed that Rashford has lost his fitness battle.
The manager said: "[Rashford has] been with our medical team all week and we've tried to progress him but it's clear he's not going to be ready for our matches so we've sent him back.
"We knew Marcus might not be ready so it's a good opportunity for others."
Rashford originally sustained the problem against Liverpool on February 24 but has featured for United five times since then.
Southgate must weigh up whether to risk the 21-year-old or hand Jadon Sancho his first competitive senior start, but said of the Borussia Dortmund starlet and Chelsea youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi: "They're both ready."
Southgate’s plans had already been hampered by a host of withdrawals with Trent Alexander-Arnold last night joining a list comprising John Stones, Fabian Delph, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Luke Shaw.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton, Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford
Defenders: Ben Chilwell, Michael Keane, Harry Maguire, Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, James Tarkowski
Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Callum Wilson, Callum Hudson-Odoi
Predicted line-up: Pickford, Walker, Maguire, Keane, Rose, Barkley, Dier, Alli, Sancho, Kane, Sterling
More to follow.
