Marc Guehi has withdrawn from England’s squad ahead of their final World Cup qualifier against Albania, ending hopes that he might recover in time to feature in Sunday evening’s match.
The Crystal Palace defender had linked up with the national team at their training base at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but did not play in Thursday’s 2–0 win over Serbia because of a persistent foot problem.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel had described the injury as “very painful” while noting that scans showed no structural damage.
His initial hope was that Guehi could make rapid progress and be available for the trip to Tirana.
That prospect has now faded, with the 24-year-old returning to Palace for treatment and rehabilitation. England will travel with a 24 player squad.
Guehi has become a central figure under Tuchel, who emphasised earlier this week how important the defender has become both on and off the pitch.
“Everybody is in training in the afternoon except for Marc Guehi,” Tuchel said prior to the Serbia match.
Marc Guehi has withdrawn from England’s squad ahead of their final World Cup qualifier against Albania, ending hopes that he might recover in time to feature in Sunday evening’s match
|PA
England's top five highest goalscorers | PA“With Marc it is very painful but there is no structural damage so it is all about the pain.
“There is the possibility that from one day to the other there is a significant improvement so we are working realistically towards the second game.
“If he is not in training on Friday and not able to train on Saturday then we will not make him travel with us and he will of course get rest and treatment.”
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Marc Guehi has emerged as a key player for England under Thomas Tuchel
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Tuchel praised Guehi’s presence within the squad, calling him “one of the leaders” and “glue between many players,” adding that the defender had been doing everything possible to make himself available.
His absence will be felt in a back line that has been one of England’s strengths throughout qualifying.
Meanwhile, speaking after the win over Serbia, Tuchel praised his squad for getting the job done.
“It was a difficult match,” said the 52-year-old.
“It was complicated because they knew everything about us and we knew nothing about them.
“Go through the list of players, they are at top clubs, they play in top leagues. They have individual quality, they came with new energy and they made it a final for them.
Thomas Tuchel hailed England for getting the job done against Serbia
| REUTERS“I liked the first half a lot. I think we deserved to go up, I think we deserved to have maybe a second goal with Harry's header.
“Second-half, we didn't get the pressing right all the time, they escaped sometimes from the deep build-up into fast attacks so the back four had to work hard to keep the clean sheet.
“We had to overcome some difficult moments but I like it, not everything is easy.
“Not every win is 2-0, 3-0, 5-0. It is good. We kept a clean sheet and it was decisive in the end.”