The winger was spotted with crutches after picking up the injury during the first match of the international break
Jamie Gittens during an England U21 game
Jamie Gittens will return to Chelsea after withdrawing from England U-21 duty.(Image: Charlotte Tattersall - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
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Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens has withdrawn from international duty with England U21s due to injury. The 22-year-old appeared to suffer an ankle injury during a qualifier against Kazakhstan.
He received treatment during the first half of the game and was able to continue until half time. He was replaced at the break, with manager Lee Carsley confirming an ankle injury.
"Jamie got a kick on his ankle,” the U21s boss said after the match. "We never take any risks.
"With the age of these players we don’t ever keep them in camp to see how they are. He will go back."
Gittens’ official withdrawal from the squad has now been confirmed by England. In a statement, they announced the call-up of West Ham’s Divine Mukasa, and said: “Mukasa’s call-up follows the withdrawal of Chelsea’s Jamie Gittens and Norwich City pair Kellen Fisher and Ben Chrisene through injury.”
Videos after the match with Kazakhstan, which was played at Molineux, show Gittens making his way around the stadium on crutches. Chelsea will hope their use was just precautionary.
His season is yet to properly get going, with the winger being an unused substitute for all of Chelsea’s Premier League games so far this campaign. His two appearances have come in the Carabao Cup, where he played the first half of the win over Leeds United, and the final 10 minutes of the 2-0 victory over Luton Town.
Jamie Gittens is treated for an injury
Jamie Gittens suffered the injury while on England U21 duty.(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
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Gittens is not the only injury worry for Chelsea over the international break. Influential midfielder Cole Palmer has been criticised for withdrawing from the England squad after his recall by Thomas Tuchel.
Speaking about the Chelsea star, Tuchel said : “For sure it’s a missed opportunity. It’s another missed opportunity. He misses too many opportunities, and I don’t blame him for it. It’s just the fact.
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“He misses way too many camps with injuries and I only want to rely on what I personally witness and what I see within my team, and for that you have to be in camp.
“If you’re not in camp, there’s a next level to impress that you cannot achieve because you only can do it when you’re actually with me on the pitch and with us on the pitch so, yeah, it is a missed opportunity.”