England's final two World Cup qualifying games are set to be played without the participation of key players Marc Guehi, Nick Pope, and Anthony Gordon due to injuries. The trio's absence could potentially impact England's performance in these crucial matches.
Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi suffered a foot injury during the midweek Conference League win that left him unable to walk. Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon missed Sunday's defeat by Brentford due to a hip issue. Simultaneously, goalkeeper Nick Pope also sustained a concussion in the 3-1 loss.
Eddie Howe, Newcastle United manager, said:
"Nick Pope suffered concussion and that's why we took him off," said Magpies manager Eddie Howe. As soon as we were made aware of that, he was withdrawn. He won't go with England.
"Anthony has a minor injury so he'll miss England."
Impact on upcoming matches
England is scheduled to face Serbia at Wembley on Thursday before playing Albania in Tirana next Sunday. These matches are part of the final round of World Cup qualifiers for which England has already secured its place. However, with key players like Guehi, Pope and Gordon missing out due to injuries, it remains uncertain how this will affect team dynamics and overall performance.
Palace boss Oliver Glasner confirmed Guehi’s injury extent before their home match against Brighton on Sunday. He revealed that Guehi would miss the Premier League game due to "a heavy bone bruise". The incident occurred during their 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar when he conceded a yellow card for foul play.
Glasner further explained: "Overnight he couldn't sleep; it was so painful...He was walking on crutches the last two days and couldn't even step on his foot." While nothing is broken, Guehi's inability to walk indicates a severe injury that will likely keep him off the field for England's upcoming games.
Road to recovery
Despite these setbacks, there is hope for recovery. Glasner suggested that Guehi might return to training in 10-14 days and be available again. However, it remains uncertain whether Pope and Gordon will recover in time for their next club matches.
As England's players report for duty on Monday, they'll have to adapt quickly to these changes and prepare themselves without their injured teammates. Despite these challenges, fans are hopeful that the team will continue its strong performance in the World Cup qualifiers.
