England Squad Reduced To 23 After Three Players Withdraw With Injuries

England manager Gareth Southgate will only have 23 players to choose from when his team take on Italy and then Ukraine later this month.

Southgate originally named a squad of 25 on Thursday but three members of that party have since withdrawn with injury issues.

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope have all pulled out.

Pope is the only player who has been replaced, with Tottenham's Fraser Forster being called up as third-choice goalkeeper.

Marcus Rashford (left) is one of three players to have pulled out of the latest England squad

IMAGO/Sportimage/David Klein

"No further replacements are planned and 23 players arrived at St. George's Park on Monday," an England statement confirmed.

Rashford's withdrawal significantly increases the chances of Ivan Toney making his international debut.

The Brentford striker received his first England call-up last year but never got on the pitch.

However, with Harry Kane the only other senior striker in the squad, Toney now looks almost guaranteed to get a few minutes of game time at least.

England will begin their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign away to Italy in Naples on Thursday. Three days later, Southgate's side will then welcome Ukraine to Wembley.

The other teams in Group C are Malta and North Macedonia.