Jude Bellingham and Lewis Dunk will not be ready for the England squad for the upcoming European qualifiers due to injuries, the national team confirmed on Sunday.
Bellingham, destined for Real Madrid, was sidelined due to a knee injury for Borussia Dortmund’s season finale, where they settled for a 2-2 draw against Mainz, dashing their hopes of securing the Bundesliga title.
The 19-year-old midfielder will continue his rehabilitation at the national football centre.
Dunk was included by manager Gareth Southgate in his squad of 25 players for the upcoming qualifiers in Malta on Friday, June 16 and against North Macedonia at Old Trafford in Manchester on Monday, June 19.
The Brighton & Hove Albion defender withdrew from the squad due to an ongoing injury issue that has affected his match fitness.
The rest of the 25-man squad started to report to St George’s Park on Sunday, although West Ham midfielder Declan Rice and the Manchester City contingent – Jack Grealish, John Stones, Phil Foden, Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips – are due to arrive in the coming days following their respective European finals.
Dunk’s only previous cap came against the USA in 2018, but he was recalled to the squad after helping Brighton qualify for Europe for the first time in the club’s history last season.
