March 26th 2024.
Last weekend, Kyle Walker, the Manchester City defender, suffered a hamstring injury during England's loss to Brazil. There were concerns about his fitness for the upcoming Premier League summit meeting against Arsenal on Sunday. However, the team is now hopeful that Walker will be able to play after receiving a positive update on his condition.
The 33-year-old was the captain of England in the absence of Harry Kane during the 1-0 defeat against Brazil at Wembley. However, he had to be substituted after just 20 minutes due to his injury. As a result, he withdrew from the squad for the friendly against Belgium and is now racing against time to recover before the highly anticipated clash at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
According to Sky Sports news, Pep Guardiola, the City manager, is set to receive some good news as Walker has reportedly only sustained minor damage and has avoided a serious strain. This is a relief for the team, as Walker will most likely be tasked with marking Bukayo Saka, who was also recently injured and had to withdraw from the England squad.
Meanwhile, England manager Gareth Southgate will have to make do with a makeshift lineup against Belgium tonight as Harry Maguire joins the growing list of injured players. There are also plans for more changes in the final friendly before Southgate names his expanded squad for the Euros on May 21. One of these changes includes giving Ivan Toney, who has only played one game for England, a chance to lead the line after Ollie Watkins played during the weekend.
Speaking about the match against Belgium, Southgate said, "Ivan will be involved in the game, for sure. I have to say, with everything that's happened, the original idea or plan for the week is a little bit different in that we're probably finding out about more players."
He also added, "But also that's really helpful. To see all of those players against high level of opposition will help us to make better decisions moving forward. You can't worry about what we haven't got. You've got to move forward. There's a lot of different reasons for those injuries. I think it is more complex than just people looking back to a winter World Cup, but every individual situation is different, frankly."
Southgate acknowledged the high number of injuries in the team and the opportunities it presents for other players. He also praised the players who stepped up during the match against Brazil and took their chances. However, he also mentioned that there are concerns about the increasing number of injuries and it is important to address them.
On Sunday, three players had to withdraw from the squad due to injuries. As a result, Rico Lewis, James Trafford, and Jarrad Branthwaite were promoted from the under-21s team. In addition, Declan Rice will captain the team on his 50th appearance for England, and Jordan Henderson will not be available this time due to his own injury.
There is also a possibility of Cole Palmer featuring in the match, as he has recovered from an issue that kept him out during the Brazil game. Southgate is looking forward to the clash between England and Belgium, who are ranked third and fourth respectively in FIFA's world rankings.
Overall, there are mixed emotions for England as they prepare for their upcoming matches. While injuries have caused concerns, they have also provided opportunities for other players to showcase their talents. With a positive attitude and determination, the team is hoping to overcome these challenges and achieve success in the upcoming matches.
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