Injured Marcus Rashford among England withdrawals as Fraser Forster joins squad

Injured trio Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and Nick Pope have withdrawn from the England squad for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.

Tottenham goalkeeper Fraser Forster has been called up to take Pope’s spot, but Rashford and Mount will not be replaced.

Rashford suffered a knock in Manchester United’s dramatic 3-1 win over Fulham in the FA Cup on Sunday, and last week Chelsea manager Graham Potter expressed surprise at Mount’s selection due to the midfielder’s fitness.

Forster returns to the England squad looking to add to his six caps seven years after his last, a 2-1 win over Australia in May 2016.

England travel to Naples this week ahead of Thursday’s test against Italy. It’s back on home soil on Sunday for the visit of Ukraine.

North Macedonia and Malta are the other teams drawn into Group C.