Ezri Konsa and Alex Scott have become the seventh and eighth players to pull out of the England camp this international break
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Ezri Konsa and Alex Scott have withdrawn from the England squad ahead of their Nations League clash with Czech Republic due to injury.
The Arsenal defender and Bournemouth midfielder both started in Saturday’s 7-0 demolition of Croatia but will play no further part as the extended international break enters its final week.
England confirmed the pair have returned to their respective clubs for further assessment. No players have been brought into the fold to replace them.
The double blow acts as the latest of a number of injury setbacks that England have experienced over the past fortnight, kickstarted by the withdrawal of five players on the first day of the international break.
Ezri Konsa is out of the England squadopen image in gallery
Ezri Konsa is out of the England squad (Getty)
Declan Rice and Cole Palmer were the high-profile absentees as the camp got underway, while Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento also pulled out. Morgan Gibbs-White and James Garner were called up in their place.
Manchester City left-back Nico O’Reilly then joined the casualty list after missing England’s 2-0 win over Czech Republic, replaced in the squad by club team-mate Rico Lewis.
Konsa’s departure also piled on extra concern for Arsenal, who have also been hit by hamstring injuries to Christos Tzolis and Kai Havertz as well as Rice’s setback during the international break.
The English centre-back’s absence may put extra strain on defensive options for the Gunners, with William Saliba still sidelined with a back problem sustained at the World Cup.
Scott, meanwhile, made his first senior start in the thrashing in Rijeka, starring in midfield alongside Elliot Anderson. However, he could now face two months on the sidelines with a quad problem.
Alex Scott impressed in the win in Croatiaopen image in gallery
Alex Scott impressed in the win in Croatia (PA Wire)
Tuchel hailed the 23-year-old and said that he could challenge Rice for a starting spot in midfield.
When asked if Arsenal's Rice might be worried about his place in the team, Tuchel told reporters: "Of course, and he does, we need performances like this. This is just the nature of it. We will not survive on two central midfielders.
"Declan knows about his importance, and he's one of the very best midfielders in Europe. Nothing will change that. But it's exactly what we need. We need more, more, more, more variety. We need more, more, more options. Then it's always about the guys who are in camp. Alex was in the highest level."
England’s fourth and final match of the international break sees them return to Wembley on Tuesday 6 October to face Czech Republic.