Phil McNulty on injuries in England

BBC Sport’s chief football writer Phil McNulty has answered your questions as Premier League players head for international duty

Harry asked: What do you think about players dropping out of the England squad due to an ‘injury’, but then suddenly being fully fit to play again once club football returns? Did this happen five, ten, fifteen years ago?

Phil replied: Player drops from England squads have been happening for as long as I can remember and there has always been a lot of fuss over whether injuries were real or not, usually from fans of rival clubs who feel others are putting their club loyalties above national ones. interests on the part.

I certainly believe most of the injuries were genuine and this weekend I don’t think there can be any doubt that these players are injured.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off with a hamstring injury 25 minutes into Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa, while Arsenal duo Declan Rice or Bukayo Saka would in no way have left the match against Chelsea early unless they were absolutely unable to continue to go. . Rice has been playing with a broken toe as the Gunners wait to discover the extent of Saka’s injury.

Jack Grealish’s situation was interesting. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola clearly did not believe he was fit enough to play for England after missing club games due to injury, but Lee Carsley selected him.