Named: EIGHT England players released from Thomas Tuchel’s camp – including three Arsenal stars with injury concerns – as Three Lions boss casts his eye over team in huge World Cup audition vs Japan
Eight players that have been with England this week have left the camp following the draw with Uruguay, including Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel named a 35-man squad for this international camp, which is giving him his final look at players up close and personal before he names the players he is taking to the World Cup, which he will do in May.
A number of stars who have found themselves on the fringes got the chance to impress on Friday night, but it was a tepid performance against the South Americans that left fans critical.
Now, though, England have confirmed that a revised squad of 27 players will continue in camp ahead of their friendly against Japan on Tuesday.
Those who are returning to their clubs include Arsenal duo Rice and Saka, who were absent from the game against Uruguay and require medical assessment. Both those players, if fit, are near certainties to head to this summer’s competition.
Fellow Gunner Noni Madueke, who left the field injured in the first-half against Uruguay, will also return to north London.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (left) and Adam Wharton (right) are among the England players who are leaving the camp after the first week
Arsenal trio Noni Madueke (left), Bukayo Saka (centre) and Declan Rice (right) have all left the camp with injury concerns
John Stones, who has been a long-time England regular but struggled for fitness in what is likely his final season with Manchester City, is also heading back to his club after getting injured in training on Friday.
Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace is also injured and leaving camp, having picked up an issue after coming on as a second-half substitute in the game.
Aaron Ramsdale (Newcastle), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds) are also leaving the set-up, though the reason why is not yet clear.
Dean Henderson, Nico O’Reilly, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane, will all join the group to prepare for Japan after being given a break for the first week of the international block by Tuchel.
Arsenal man Ben White will remain with England after making his return to the international fold for the first time since walking out on his team during the 2022 World Cup following an altercation with then-assistant manager Steve Holland.
White has been welcomed back into the fold by his team-mates, but was booed by fans when he was introduced as a substitute – and when he scored.
He went onto five away a penalty, which Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde scored to equalise.
