- Harry Winks promoted from Under 21 squad following departure of Fabian Delph
- Phil Jones was also sent back to Manchester United following fitness assessment
- England play Slovenia at Wembley before travelling to Lithuania on Sunday
Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks has been called up to the England squad for the first time with Manchester United star Phil Jones and Manchester City’s Fabian Delph withdrawing.
Winks was originally called up to the England Under 21 squad by Aidy Boothroyd but will now join up with Gareth Southgate’s senior squad ahead of their final two World Cup qualifiers.
Both Jones and Delph reported to St George’s Park on Monday morning but, following assessments by England physios, were deemed unfit to play in upcoming games against Slovenia and Lithuania.
Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks has been called up to the England squad for the first time
Phil Jones and Fabian Delph have been sent home after assessments at St Geroge’s Park
England can seal their place in next summer’s tournament in Russia with a win over Slovenia at Wembley on Thursday and Southgate has 25 players to choose from following the arrival of Winks.
Injury problems have already ravaged the Three Lions squad with Jones and Delph’s withdrawal’s taking the total injury list up to 14 while Dele Alli will be suspended for the game against Slovenia.
Winks, 21, started his first Premier League game of the season last weekend and impressed from midfield as Tottenham breezed past Huddersfield by four goals to nil.
He also played a role in their Champions League victory over Apoel Nicosia last week with Mauricio Pochettino hailing him as the ‘perfect midfielder’ following two good performances in quick succession.
Winks was hailed by Mauricio Pochettino following his performance against Huddersfield
The 21-year-old was also impressive as Tottenham beat Apoel in Cyprus last week
‘For me, he is the perfect midfielder, who can play box-to-box and like a holding midfielder,’ Pochettino said. ‘He has the quality and capacity to play and use the demand of the game and read it.
‘He’s so clever, and we are so happy that he starts to feel better now because he provides to the team qualities that we don’t have.
‘He is completely different to our other midfielders like Victor Wanyama, Eric Dier, Mousa Dembele and Mousa Sissoko. He has qualities to add to the team that are completely different.’
‘Can he help us unlock defences? Yes, he is one of the options we have in different games to use.’