05 September 2023 , 12:31
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England boss Gareth Southgate has called up three youngsters from the Under-20s squad to train with the senior team ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine.
England are set to face Ukraine on Saturday and will be hoping to continue their unbeaten start to qualifying, having already won their first four games. As a result, they are currently top of Group C while Ukraine sit second ahead of Euro 2020 winners Italy.
Ukraine have only lost once, with that defeat coming against England at Wembley back in March. And in England's first-training session at St George's Park ahead of the game, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka, Newcastle striker Callum Wilson and Chelsea defender Levi Colwill were all absent.
Southgate called up Lewis Hall, Bashir Humphreys and Alfie Devine to join in training, with all three drafted in from Joe Edwards' Under-20s squad which is also preparing at St George's Park for games against Romania and Portugal.
The Times are reporting that Saka, Wilson and Colwill are all missing training due to 'load management', meaning there are no injury concerns surrounding the trio. Jack Grealish and Trent Alexander-Arnold have already withdrawn from the squad due to injury, while Kieran Trippier will not join up with squad until Wednesday due to a "personal commitment".
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Grealish picked up an injury in Manchester City's 2-1 win over Sheffield United last month and missed their 5-1 win over Fulham as a result, while Alexander-Arnold limped off with a hamstring issue in Liverpool's 3-0 win over Aston Villa.
Three England under-20 internationals joined the senior squad for a training session at St George's Park (JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)Southgate decided against calling up replacements for Grealish and Alexander-Arnold, instead opting to take a look at youngsters like Hall, Humphreys and Devine instead. Hall recently completed a big money move from Chelsea to Newcastle.
The teenager joined Newcastle on a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent next summer for a fee of £28m plus a further £7m in add-ons. Humphreys, meanwhile, also came through Chelsea's academy and is currently on loan at Swansea.
It is the defender's second loan move, following a four-month stint in Germany with SC Paderborn last season, and came after he signed a new four-year deal with the Blues. Tottenham midfielder Alfie Devine is also out on loan, with the highly-rated teenager now plying his trade in League One with Port Vale.