Roy Hodgson has backtracked on his previous decision not to call-up a replacement for injured full-back Danny Rose. The England boss has now welcomed Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand into his squad for the games against Lithuania and Italy.
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Rose was himself a replacement for Manchester United star Luke Shaw, but was forced to withdraw with a hamstring injury. Their absence means that Bertrand will provide back-up for left-backs Leighton Baines and Kieran Gibbs.
In other team news, the Daily Express believes that Raheem Sterling (toe) and James Milner (knee) will be allowed to return to their teams following the Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley, and will not make the trip to Turin to face the Azzuri next week.
Bertrand, 25, will join up after the game against Lithuania, suggesting that one of Baines or Gibbs could be released from the squad along with the stars of Liverpool and Manchester City.
Former Chelsea man Bertrand made his England debut against Italy in 2012, with his only other appearance coming in a World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.