Phil Foden has asked to be excluded from the upcoming England squad to focus on his mental wellbeing and fitness levels. The surprise development comes just days before Thomas Tuchel's announcement of his latest group for matches against Andorra and Senegal.
Foden has spoken out about his challenging season, marred by personal troubles and a spate of injuries. The Manchester City star has seen a notable dip in his performance, scoring only 10 times in 44 appearances. An ankle injury sustained during the high-profile Manchester derby in early April caused the midfielder to play through the pain barrier for the remainder of the campaign.
Yet he believes a break from football is essential to regain top physical condition, prompting him to request that Tuchel sits him out of England's forthcoming pair of fixtures.
Foden said: "It's been a frustrating season for me. I've had a lot of things going on off the pitch mentally. It's one of them, sometimes there's things in life that are bigger than football.
"This season I've struggled a little bit. Hopefully come next year I can get my head mentally right, and get back where I left the season before, because I know what I'm capable of doing and the quality I have.
"The club have been so supportive. I can't thank them enough. I know if everything was okay, I'd definitely be better on the field. Sometimes things happen and you have to deal with it and move on.
"Obviously it's a difficult situation for me with the internationals right around the corner. It's something we have to speak about with the club and national team, to see maybe if it's better to rest and get my ankle fully 100 per cent back how I want it.
"I just don't know at the moment, it's a conversation to be had and we'll see what happens.
"I just need a few weeks off it, without playing football, and obviously I can't get it at the moment. It's a bit frustrating to play with niggles like this. A lot of people don't know what football players have to go through, and play with.
"I've had a lot of ankle pain and playing with it in the last couple of months. Some people don't see what we go through."
Tuchel will name his squad on Friday morning, for the World Cup qualifier against Andorra in Barcelona on June 7, and home friendly with Senegal at the City Ground three days later.