England have announced eight players will leave Thomas Tuchel's squad ahead of Tuesday night's friendly with Japan
Nathan Ridley Senior Sports Reporter and Matty Hewitt Senior Sport Central Audience Writer
21:33, 28 Mar 2026Updated 21:38, 28 Mar 2026
Noni Madueke receives treatment
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Noni Madueke is one of three Arsenal stars to leave the England squad before Tuesday night's friendly against Japan.
Arsenal trio Noni Madueke, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are among the eight players who've departed the England squad.
Alongside Manchester City ace John Stones and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, the FA have confirmed they'll return to their respective clubs due to fitness-related issues.
Both Madueke and Wharton sustained injuries during Friday's 1-1 stalemate with Uruguay, while Stones encountered a problem in training prior to the match. Rice and Saka will head back to Arsenal 'for medical assessment'.
In the meantime, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, centre-back Fikayo Tomori and forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin have been sent home, as Thomas Tuchel welcomes back a number of regular players who were rested for the Uruguay friendly.
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Rice and Saka were among those but won't participate in Tuesday's encounter with Japan at Wembley.
The remaining nine - specifically Dean Henderson, Nico O'Reilly, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane - are all available for selection. Madueke's injury forced him to be substituted in the first half on Friday.
Noni Madueke
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Arsenal winger Noni Madueke suffered an injury for England in the game against Uruguay
"I'm worried, of course, because I think he was a difference-maker today," Tuchel said post-match. "He started well, he was full of energy, he was ready to go.
"And I think against a team like Uruguay, who relies on one-against-ones, to isolate them there and to go in one-against-ones from every minute out there, the spaces open up and he could have been a key player for us, which he is. Very sad and upset and hopefully it's not a big injury."
Regarding Stones' setback, the England boss remarked: "He's obviously very upset and at the moment he gets my full support because it helps him more than putting more pressure. He was ready to play for City in the last weeks. He was ready to play."
John Stones
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John Stones has returned to Man City and won't feature for England against Japan.
"He played in the Champions League and he played in the FA Cup, but he was not used in the league. But he played enough for me to be important for us. So strong in training again, like every time I see him.
"I think he's a world-class player. But he felt again, I think the calf. We were then very careful and said we don't take any risk.
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"We did a reintegration, he felt it again in the last training. So no risk at the moment. But he has a lot of credit in the bank with me. So. let's hope that he gets fit because it's most important that he finds his confidence."
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