England are hit with a new injury blow ahead of Saturday’s World Cup 2026 qualifier against Andorra as Thomas Tuchel confirms a decision over Harry Kane’s involvement.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that John Stones has withdrawn from the England squad due to injury, and a decision on Harry Kane‘s involvement against Andorra on Saturday has been revealed.
The Three Lions are aiming to make it four for four in World Cup 2026 Qualifying Group K this weekend, where Tuchel will be after an improved display from his side’s unconvincing 1-0 success over Andorra in June.
Tuchel included Stones in his ranks after the 31-year-old started each of Man City’s first three games of the Premier League season, completing the full 90 minutes in losses to Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion.
However, Tuchel revealed to reporters in Friday’s press conference that Stones was already carrying muscular issues when he arrived at St George’s Park, and the centre-back has been sent home after failing to recover as medical staff hoped.
“Unfortunately, John Stones just left,” Tuchel said. “He came with minor issues – muscle issues – to camp and didn’t progress as we thought and hoped he would, so he left camp this morning [Friday].
Stones pulls out of England squad as Kane Andorra decision confirmed
“We will not take the risk up against Andorra and also unfortunately, not against Serbia. Everyone else is available. We had 21 players yesterday in training and 21 players today in training and hopefully make sure everyone is available for tomorrow.”
The Three Lions coach also revealed that captain Kane – who can equal Bobby Moore’s total of 108 England caps on Saturday – would start, and he suggested that he would not tinker too much with his XI even with a more daunting clash against Serbia scheduled for Tuesday.
“Yes. He [Harry Kane] starts. There is no balance, the competition is on and it is World Cup season,” the German added. “We have a condensed camp and that means we will start with the team that we trust and the best team possible and we will manage the second game. We will not do it backwards.
“We will not get caught up in experiments and everything that counts is today and tomorrow and then we will do our assessment after the match to see who is available.
“The players will start to play two matches a week after the international camp and I do not see a problem why they can’t start that one week earlier and play on a Saturday and a Tuesday.”
Who could replace Stones in England XI against Andorra?
Tuchel’s admission that he will not get “caught up in experiments” suggests that Stones could very well have started against the Group K basement boys at Villa Park, as the 31-year-old remains a cornerstone of the England team when fully fit.
However, Stones’s absence opens the door for any of Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa or Jarell Quansah – still awaiting his first senior cap for England – to line up alongside likely starter Marc Guehi in the centre of defence.
Burn is a viable option at left-back as well, though, as Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly is yet to start a Premier League game this season, although Tottenham Hotspur’s Djed Spence is eyeing a full England debut in that slot too.
England sit four points clear of second-placed Albania – who have played a game more – at the top of Group K, while Serbia are five points adrift with a game in hand.
ID:580897:1false2false3false: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5206: 