Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has been added to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the upcoming Nations League clashes with Italy and Germany, replacing the injured Kalvin Phillips in the 28-man group.
Phillips has been struggling with a shoulder problem since his arrival at Manchester City this summer, which has limited the former Leeds United man to just 13 minutes of action across all competitions for his new club.
And, following a routine 3-0 win over Wolves, Cityzens boss Pep Guardiola revealed that Phillips had missed out on the matchday squad because he was having surgery on his shoulder, an injury that he has not been able to shake since before Euro2020.
“The doctor says when you have been out four times with a shoulder, the only solution is surgery”, he explained.
WIth just over two months until the World Cup in Qatar, it looks touch and go whether or not Phillips will be able to be aboard the plane for the tournament.
However, the Athletic report that there is “optimism among City and England staff that he will be fit for the tournament”, something that will come as a relief to England fans.
Henderson has himself been injured, missing the last three Liverpool clashes after picking up an injury against Newcastle. It leaves Southgate with a potential major selection headache of who to partner with Declan Rice for England’s final two games before the World Cup.
James Ward-Prowse, Jude Bellingham and Henderson are expected to fight it out for that spot, though one of that trio or Phillips are likely to miss out on the final 26-man squad taken to the Middle East in November.
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