England hit by EIGHT injury withdrawals as Lee Carsley calls up five additional players to his squad ahead of his final two matches in interim charge

England have been rocked by a glut of withdrawals for this week’s Nations League double header against Greece and Ireland.

Interim boss Lee Carsley will be without eight players from his original squad for the final two of his games in charge before Thomas Tuchel takes over in January as his preparations descended into chaos.

There was good news for Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, who earned his first call-up as a replacement – but Trent Alexander-Arnold, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Aaron Ramsdale have all dropped out due to injury.

Jarrad Branthwaite, Jarrod Bowen, James Trafford and Tino Livramento have also been drafted into the squad by Carsley.

Anthony Gordon, Kyle Walker and Dominic Solanke who reported issues following their respective games over the weekend will remain with the squad.

West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen (left) and Burnley’s James Trafford (right) are among those called up 

Aston Villa striker Morgan Rogers (right) has been handed a first England call-up

The forthcoming fixtures are crucial to deciding whether England automatically qualify back into the Nations League top tier, of face the unwanted scenario of a play-off in March.

But as the England team wait for Tuchel’s arrival, Carsley will have to make do without a raft of key players in news that will arrive as huge blow to the interim boss.

The news will be viewed as a victory for a number of Premier League managers who have privately been pushing for their players to stay with their clubs.

Last Friday, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola spoke of his anger at Carsley’s decision to call-up Grealish, who hasn’t played since October 20 due to injury.

Grealish has returned to training, nevertheless the forward has pulled out of the squad in a decision that will appease Guardiola.

Elsewhere, Arsenal duo Rice (broken toes) and Saka (thigh) have withdrawn in news that will come as a major relief to Mikel Arteta, who insisted the pair are not fit enough to report for international duty.

Alexander-Arnold, who has become a key figure in Carsley’s interim reign, suffered a hamstring injury in Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

The right-back has escaped with only a minor hamstring strain after limping off on Saturday and it is hoped he can make a swift return to action, particularly given Liverpool play Southampton away on November 24, before two huge clashes against Real Madrid the following Wednesday and title rivals Manchester City on December 1.

Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka (left) and Declan Rice (right) have both withdrawn from the squad

Trent Alexander-Arnold has withdrawn from England’s squad after getting injured in Sunday’s win over Villa

Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento has been given a late call-up by Carsley to England’s camp

Palmer and Colwill both started and finished Chelsea’s draw against Arsenal on Sunday but won’t play for England during this international window. Blues boss Enzo Maresca revealed that Palmer was in ‘pain’ after the clash against the Gunners.

Elsewhere, Southampton keeper Ramsdale has a finger injury that could require surgery.

Of the wave of replacements – Rogers, originally called into the Under-21 squad, is the most exciting; the Villa midfielder starting the season impressively.

Meanwhile, England will hold further talks over trying to add Chelsea goalkeeping coach Henrique Hilario to Tuchel’s backroom staff.

Chelsea are open to allowing Hilario leaving for the Football Association on a permanent basis, but have so far resisted attempts to strike a a part-time arrangement which would allow the Portuguese to dual-role with the Blues.

James Melbourne has already left Chelsea, where he was head of performance analysis, to join Tuchel’s staff.