England snub Kyle Walker again as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James withdraw from squad

21.03.2022 - 20:33 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk

Kyle Walker will remain at Manchester City for the international break after being overlooked again for the England squad - despite two right-backs withdrawing with injury.

Walker had been left out of the squad for England's two friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast in the coming days as Gareth Southgate said he wanted to look at the two younger right-backs in the squad - Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James. However, Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold has picked up a hamstring injury and Chelsea want James to remain at the club to recover from injury in the next fortnight, so both have withdrawn from the squad.

Southgate hasn't returned to Walker, though, as he has called up uncapped full-backs Tyrick Mitchell of Crystal Palace and Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters for the friendly games. Also withdrawing from the squad are Aaron Ramsdale and Tammy Abraham, with Sam Johnstone and Ollie Watkins replacing them.

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Southgate said last week that he had spoken to Walker, and that he planned to recall the City right-back for the next international break in June, and he appears to have stuck with his decision to try some other options at full-back.

“With Kyle, I had a chat with him, we felt this was an opportunity to look at the two younger full-backs," he said.

"We know all there is to know about Kyle, he'll be back in June, he’s an important part of the progress we've made as a team, you can see in the big matches for City this season he’s still been an important player for them.”

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