Walker’s early departure from England’s match against Brazil at Wembley Stadium, lasting only 20 minutes before being substituted, raised concerns about his fitness.
Gareth Southgate, England’s manager, confirmed post-match that Walker would undergo assessment in the following days. Subsequently, Walker has returned to Manchester City for further evaluation.
Similarly, veteran defender Maguire was withdrawn from the match in the 67th minute, adding to England’s injury woes. Despite recently overcoming an injury concern, Maguire was included in the squad to face Brazil.
His exit from the game prompted another round of evaluations, and he, too, has been sent back to his club, Manchester United, for assessment.
With both Walker and Maguire sidelined, along with Johnstone, Southgate made the decision to promote Rico Lewis and James Trafford from the under-21 squad to the senior team.
Lewis, having earned one cap for the senior team previously, made his debut against North Macedonia in November. Trafford, on the other hand, could be poised for his inaugural appearance for the senior squad when England faces Belgium at Wembley Stadium.
Despite recent struggles at club level, where he was dropped by Burnley, Trafford has been a consistent performer at underage levels for England over the years.
His inclusion in the senior squad reflects Southgate’s trust in his abilities and provides an opportunity for Trafford to showcase his talents on the international stage.
In addition to the absence of Maguire, Walker, and Johnstone, Southgate will also have to navigate the unavailability of star forwards Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, both sidelined due to injury concerns.
This accumulation of injuries presents a significant challenge for Southgate as he prepares his squad for upcoming fixtures, underscoring the importance of depth and adaptability within the team.
