Chelsea star Ross Barkley out of the England squad as Southgate waits on replacement
ROSS BARKLEY is OUT of England’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo.
The Chelsea midfielder has missed the Blues’ last six games, having been out of action since picking up an ankle injury against Newcastle on October 19.
Barkley scored twice in the Three Lions’ 6-0 away qualifying win in Bulgaria last month, which was overshadowed by racist abuse towards England players.
Three Lions chief Gareth Southgate included Barkley in his squad last week — but the 25-year-old was forced to pull out last night with no replacement named yet.
England host Montenegro on Thursday and play in Kosovo on Sunday.
Sheffield United goalkeeper Dean Henderson has been called up to replace the crocked Tom Heaton and will link up with the England squad at St George’s Park today. Aston Villa keeper Heaton’s calf injury flared up again, which ruled him out of the 2-1 Midlands derby defeat to Wolves yesterday.
It is the second month running Henderson, 22, has been a late inclusion following Heaton’s fitness problem.
The Blades No 1 has kept five clean sheets in the league this season — joint top with Manchester City’s Ederson and Leicester’s Kasper Schmeichel.
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But there was better news for Southgate when powerhouse defender Tyrone Mings survived a scare at Molineux.
Villa boss Dean Smith gave Mings a clean bill of health despite appearing to suffer a groin injury. Smith explained: “Ty’s fine, he just over-stretched a bit for a recovery tackle.
“But he was able to see the match through and he’ll join up with the squad as scheduled.”