England Faces Injury Crisis Ahead of World Cup Qualifiers

England manager Thomas Tuchel is contending with a series of injury setbacks as the Three Lions prepare for their final World Cup qualifying matches against Serbia and Albania. Several key players have been ruled out due to injury, presenting a significant challenge for Tuchel as he aims to fine-tune his squad ahead of next summer's tournament in North America.

Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi is the most recent addition to the injury list. He suffered a bone bruise to his foot during Palace's Conference League victory over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday. Palace boss Oliver Glasner revealed that Guehi is currently unable to walk without crutches, making his participation in the upcoming England matches impossible. "He can't even walk at the moment, so the last two days he was on crutches," Glasner said. Scans revealed a heavy bone bruise, with Glasner expressing doubt over Guehi's availability for England's games. Guehi's absence is a blow for both Crystal Palace and England, as he has become a key player in the heart of the defense for both teams.

Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon is also set to miss out on international duty after aggravating a hip injury. Gordon initially sustained the injury while on England duty in March, and it has resurfaced intermittently. He was forced off during Newcastle's recent match against Athletic Bilbao, and manager Eddie Howe confirmed that Gordon would miss their subsequent game against Brentford. Howe stated that the club would liaise closely with England regarding Gordon's availability. While the injury is not considered serious, it is enough to keep him sidelined for the upcoming qualifiers.

Adding to Newcastle's woes, goalkeeper Nick Pope is also ruled out after suffering a concussion during the match against Brentford. Pope was withdrawn from the game after the head injury, and Howe confirmed that he would not be joining the England squad.

These withdrawals present a headache for Thomas Tuchel, who must now reshuffle his squad and potentially call up replacements for the injured players. Despite already securing their place at next summer's tournament in North America, these final matches are crucial for Tuchel to experiment with different tactics and player combinations.

The England squad, announced earlier this week, included the return of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, alongside first senior call-up for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott. Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, and Dean Henderson were the goalkeepers selected, while the defense featured a strong Premier League presence, including John Stones, Reece James and Marc Guehi. With Guehi and Pope now unavailable, Tuchel may look to call upon other defensive options such as Dan Burn or Ezri Konsa, while a replacement goalkeeper will also be required.

England will face Serbia at Wembley Stadium on Thursday, November 13, before traveling to Tirana to play Albania on Sunday, November 16.