Manchester City duo Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling have both withdrawn from the England squad to face Germany and the Netherlands in friendly matches later this week after suffering injuries this weekend.
Burnley’s Tom Heaton has been called up to replace Hart, while there is no replacement for Sterling.
City fell to a lacklustre 1-0 derby defeat to rivals Manchester United on Sunday following Marcus Rashford’s strike.
Not only did the defeat draw United to within one point of their fierce city rivals in the hunt for the fourth Champions League spot, but it also came at a cost for Manuel Pellegrini’s side moving forward, as both Hart and Sterling were replaced.
There are also consequences for England, with both players missing out on the upcoming friendlies against the Netherlands at Wembley on 29 March and against Germany in Berlin three days beforehand, according to the FA’s official website.
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While both men are surely dead-certs to make England’s squad for the 2016 European Championships next summer, the absence of Hart certainly provides opportunities for other players to assert themselves in Hodgson’s plans.
Both backup keepers—Fraser Forster and Jack Butland—will be hopeful of gametime, while Heaton will be keen to demonstrate that he belongs in the Three Lions’ plans.