Walker’s premature exit from the England versus Brazil match at Wembley Stadium, lasting only 20 minutes before being substituted, sparked worries about his physical condition.
Following the game, England’s manager Gareth Southgate confirmed that Walker would undergo further assessment in the coming days. Consequently, Walker has returned to Manchester City for additional evaluation.
Similarly, seasoned defender Maguire was taken off the field in the 67th minute, compounding England’s injury troubles. Despite recently recovering from an injury concern, Maguire was still included in the squad to face Brazil.
His departure from the match prompted another round of evaluations, leading to his return to his club, Manchester United, for assessment.
With both Walker and Maguire sidelined, in addition to Johnstone, Southgate opted to elevate Rico Lewis and James Trafford from the under-21 squad to the senior team.
Lewis, who had previously earned one cap for the senior team, made his debut against North Macedonia in November. Meanwhile, Trafford could be on the cusp of his first appearance for the senior squad when England takes on Belgium at Wembley Stadium.
Despite recent challenges at club level, where he was dropped by Burnley, Trafford has consistently performed well at underage levels for England over the years.
His inclusion in the senior squad reflects Southgate’s confidence in his abilities and offers Trafford an opportunity to display his talents on the international stage.
In addition to the absence of Maguire, Walker, and Johnstone, Southgate will also need to navigate the unavailability of star forwards Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, both sidelined due to injury concerns.
This string of injuries poses a significant hurdle for Southgate as he prepares his squad for upcoming fixtures, emphasizing the importance of depth and adaptability within the team.
