Injury forces Milner to withdraw from England squad

Liverpool midfielder James Milner has withdrawn from the England squad for the friendly double header against Spain and France due to injury.

Milner injured his hamstring in Liverpool’s recent 1-0 win over Rubin Kazan and he sat out the Reds’ Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday and he has not recovered sufficiently to take his place in Roy Hodgson’s squad.

No replacement is due to be added to Hodgson’s squad, so England will go with the 22 who travelled to Alicante earlier on Tuesday for Friday’s date with Spain and Tuesday’s tussle with France.

England will remain in Spain until Saturday before they return to London for another tough enocunter against Euro 2016 hosts France.

The match at Wembley Stadium next  Tuesday is a Breast Cancer Care International and will be England’s final game of 2015.

England squad:

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jonjo Shelvey (Swansea City), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)