A Sunday to forget for Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has been compounded further for the under pressure Italian after the Blues received news of midfield star, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has picked up another knock.
Loftus-Cheek came on for compatriot Ross Barkley in the 65th minute of Chelsea’s surprise 2-0 loss at Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, which has led to him being withdrawn from the England national team squad.
The 23-year-old is not the only player that has been forced to drop out of the England camp ahead of the Three Lions’ UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying matches against Czech Republic and Montenegro.
Manchester City duo, John Stones and Fabian Delph, have also been dropped from the squad. Stones missed City’s last outing – a dramatic 3-2 win over Swansea City in the FA Cup – due to injury while Delph was taken off for Oleksandr Zinchenko in the 57th minute of that encounter due to an injury.
As a result of the withdrawals, England head coach, Gareth Southgate has called upon the Southampton midfielder, James Ward-Prowse, after seeing senior stars from Manchester City and Chelsea suffer untimely knocks.
Southgate has moved to bolster his ranks after seeing three senior figures drop out of his plans. With the 23-year-old Blues star now absent, along with the versatile Delph, the England boss has decided to bring in another option for his engine room.
And Ward-Prowse is the man to have got the nod. The 24-year-old Saints playmaker has made one previous senior international outing. That came against Germany in March 2017, but he now has the opportunity to add to his cap collection.
Ward-Prowse has previously said of his England ambition and desire to form part of the Three Lions’ plans: “It’s obviously an incredibly proud feeling for me.”
He added: “It’s always been a life-long ambition and a career ambition to reach the senior squad. I think it’s every young player’s dream to play for England and to be given that opportunity and chance to represent your country and do everyone proud is a great honour.”
Ward-Prowse went on to say: “Should the chance come, I’ll be ready to take it. I can’t wait to draw every ounce of knowledge from other players who have been in the group before this week, to help me as a player as well.”
The 24-year-old is now back working alongside the elite of the English game. His arrival in Southgate’s selection means the Three Lions are back up to a 23-man squad for their upcoming games.
They are due to face the Czech Republic at Wembley on Friday, before then taking in an away date with Montenegro three days later. Ward-Prowse will be desperate to play some part in those fixtures having enjoyed a welcome return to top form in 2019.
Since the turn of the year, the Southampton man has hit six goals in his last nine Premier League appearances – with those efforts helping to life the Saints two points clear of the relegation zone.
Loftus-Cheek on his part put in a stellar display against Dynamo Kyiv to help Chelsea reach the last eight of the Europa League as he was fighting his way into the first team. His latest setback will be a big blow towards his progress into cementing a spot in the starting line-up which he sorely craves.
