Ex-Liverpool man suffers major injury blow as he drops out of England squad

Former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah has picked up an untimely injury ahead of the March international break, which has seen him drop out of the England squad

England manager Thomas Tuchel during a press conference(Image: Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Bayer Leverkusen has confirmed that former Liverpool center-back Jarell Quansah has dropped out of the England squad for the upcoming internationals against Uruguay and Japan.

Quansah, who joined the German side last summer for a fee of around $47 million (£35 million) and has since been a regular in the team, has suffered what is described as a "knock" that will prevent him from linking up with Thomas Tuchel's men.

The 23-year-old is likely to go to the summer's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but this was a final opportunity to impress the England coaching staff in person ahead of the roster for the finals being confirmed.

Elsewhere, Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes has been called up to replace Eberechi Eze. The Arsenal ace missed the Carabao Cup final through injury and is set for a spell on the sidelines.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Quansah's old teammate at Liverpool, was not selected by Tuchel. The German said Quansah was one of the reasons for that decision.

"I know it's a tough decision for Trent as it is for Ollie Watkins and Luke Shaw," Tuchel explained in a press conference. "These tough decisions come from the job.

Jarell Quansah will miss the upcoming international break(Image: Getty Images)

"It's a sporting decision. We stick with Tino Livramento, Djed Spence and Jarell Quansah, who can all play at right full-back. It's a decision for Dominic Solanke and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, which I don't know in comparison with Ollie Watkins.

"I have a clear picture of him, I've seen him in tournaments, in qualifying football. I want to look at two other players to get a better picture and get a clear opinion.

"It's a tough one, it's a big name, a huge talent and a big career, but I know what Trent can give us and have decided to stick with the players we have."

When asked what those players have that Alexander-Arnold does not, Tuchel explained that they have attributes that he prefers with the others.

"A slightly different profile, I would say," the German outlined. "It's more the evidence we have that they were very good in September, October and November, than it has anything to do with what Trent cannot offer.

"I know very well what Trent can offer us. I played many times against him and suffered when he played against my team at Liverpool. I know what he can give, but at the moment, we have evidence of how good we were in September, October and November.

"But the players who are in camp for right back, they have to push for their ticket, they have to show they deserve this spot."