Two of England's key defenders, captain Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire, have been forced to withdraw from the national team due to injuries, according to the English Football Association (FA) on Sunday.
In the recent 1-0 loss to Brazil at Wembley Stadium on March 23, Walker played only 20 minutes before being substituted for Ezri Konsa. The captain sustained a hamstring injury in the 12th minute while attempting to block a shot from Brazil's Vinicius Junior.
“We don’t know [how serious it is],” England's manager Gareth Southgate commented after the match. “He’s not had many injuries, so he’s not sure if it’s just tightness or something more serious. We’ll know more over the next few days.”
Walker's injury also has implications for his club team, Manchester City. The Premier League side is set to host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on March 31. Currently, Manchester City is in third place with 63 points after 28 games, trailing Arsenal by one point.
As England faces upcoming fixtures without two of their key defenders, both the national team and Manchester City will be keenly watching Walker's recovery and hoping for a swift return to the pitch.
Reference(s):
Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire exit English national team due to injury
cgtn.com
