Harvey Barnes and Benjamin White called-up into the England national team squad following Eberechi Eze and Jarell Quansah's injuries..
2026-03-24 07:03
The Football Association (FA) announced on its official website on Monday that Arsenal attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze and Bayer Leverkusen defender wonderkid Jarell Quansah have been forced to withdraw from the England national team due to injury; Newcastle United star Harvey Barnes and Arsenal defender Benjamin White will be called-up in their place.
According to the FA's official statement, Jarell Quansah has been forced to withdraw due to a strained left thigh. Depending on his recovery, Quansah is expected to be ruled out for at least two to three weeks.
Eberechi Eze was reported to have suffered a calf muscle strain, forcing him to miss Arsenal's Carabao Cup final match against Manchester City last weekend. After consulting with Arsenal's medical staff, the national team doctor confirmed that the Gunners' number 10's injury was unlikely to recover in the near future, and therefore, as a precaution, Eze was left out.
This will mark the first time in many years that both Harvey Barnes and Benjamin White have been called up to the England national team.
Barnes had not been included in the Three Lions squad since the friendly against Wales in October 2020, which was his first and only appearance for England.
Benjamin White, on the other hand, refused to play for the Three Lions the day after England's 3-0 victory over Wales at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, due to a major falling out with then-assistant coach Steve Holland.
It's worth mentioning that with Quansah injured, England preferred to recall White, who had been absent for several years, rather than call up his former Liverpool teammate, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
This clearly demonstrates that the Real Madrid wing-back, hailed as having "the world's unparalleled attacking and passing abilities," is not currently in manager Thomas Tuchel's plans.
England will host Uruguay and Japan at Wembley Stadium on the 27th and 31st of this month, respectively.
Tuchel will be determined to secure victories, aiming to be in top form for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico this summer.
Image source: Internet / The Athletic
