Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has been released from the England squad with an injury concern. Wharton played 45 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Uruguay on Friday night but now withdraws from the squad.
Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has been released from the England squad amid an injury concern.
Wharton was one of eight players who were released from Thomas Tuchel’s squad ahead of their friendly against Japan at Wembley on Tuesday night.
He is said to have suffered a knock in the 1-1 draw against Uruguay, in which he played 45 minutes.
Wharton is sent back to Palace, where he will undergo medical checks and rehabilitation.
Oliver Glasner will be desperate for his star midfielder to be fit and firing for a busy end to the season, with Palace gunning for the Conference League title, as well looking to finish as high up the Premier League table as possible.
Wharton left St. Georges’ Park alongside Arsenal trio Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Noni Madueke, who are all carrying injuries, as well as John Stones and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Fikayo Tomori and Aaron Ramsdale.
There will be some Crystal Palace representation in the England squad for the Japan clash though, with captain Dean Henderson one of 11 players joining the squad after being given the week off by manager Thomas Tuchel.
Henderson, who looks destined to enjoy another summer as England No.2 behind Jordan Pickford was awarded a week off by Tuchel due to the number of minutes he had played across the league and Europe this season.
He may now be in line for a rare start for England at Wembley against Japan, with Pickford himself potentially being given a rest.
Glasner will watch on nervously if Henderson does play, with centre back Chris Richards ruled out of the USA’s 5-2 defeat to Belgium, while it seems unlikely he will be involved against Portugal either.
Now Wharton has also picked up a knock and there is a high chance that Maxence Lacroix will start for France in their match against Colombia, which could see the Frenchman clash with Eagles teammates Daniel Munoz and Jefferson Lerma.
It could be a difficult week for Palace fans and for Glasner to watch, with the squad suddenly appearing far thinner than it did just weeks ago.
Palace are in action on April 9 against Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter-final first leg.
That game is the first of five in 16 days, in what is set to be a huge test of Oliver Glasner’s ability to keep players fresh.
Palace had the third most internationals of any club in world football with 15 and now prepare to embark on a tricky business end to the season.
Glasner needs Wharton fit if they are to go all the way in the Conference League.