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JAMES WARD-PROWSE REPLACES INJURED KALVIN PHILLIPS IN ENGLAND SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

James Ward-Prowse has replaced Kalvin Phillips in the England squad for this month’s World Cup Qualifiers after the Leeds midfielder withdrew through injury.

Phillips was assessed by medical staff after Leeds’ win over Watford at the weekend and has been deemed unfit.

Ward-Prowse – who scored and was sent-off in Southampton’s 3-1 loss at Chelsea on Saturday – is already at St George’s Park with his England team-mates.

Gareth Southgate’s side play Andorra away on Saturday before hosting Hungary at Wembley on Tuesday, October 12.

Phillips was a key player for England on their run to the Euro 2020 final this summer, playing in all seven matches and forming a solid partnership with Declan Rice in midfield.

Ward-Prowse was part of England’s provisional squad ahead of Euro 2020 – and played in both warm-up friendlies against Austria and Romania – but was cut from the roster ahead of the tournament.

He joins Tammy Abraham and Ben Chilwell in being late additions to the England squad.

Abraham and Chilwell were called up on Monday – four days after Southgate named his original squad – after Reece James withdrew with an ankle injury.

Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel described James’ call up as a “misunderstanding” and joked he thought the defender was included in the England water polo team because he was training in the swimming pool as he recovered from injury.

England are four points clear of second-placed Albania in World Cup qualifying group I with four matches still to play.

They round off their qualifying campaign with games at home to Albania and away to San Marino next month.