Monday 7 October 2019 22:49, UK
Mason Greenwood, Morgan Gibbs-White and Reiss Nelson have withdrawn from the England U21 squad to face Slovenia and Austria.
Manchester United forward Greenwood and Wolves midfielder Gibbs-White have pulled out of the squad with back injuries, while Arsenal's Nelson is struggling with a knee problem.
Sam Surridge and Ben Wilmot, who are both on loan at Swansea from Bournemouth and Watford respectively, have been called up to provide cover for the Young Lions.
England travel to face Slovenia in Maribor on Friday before they continue their qualifying campaign for the 2021 European U21 Championship at home to Austria four days later at Stadium MK.
Aidy Boothroyd's side won their opening two qualifiers against Turkey and Kosovo and are third in Group C.
Callum Hudson-Odoi has also been named in the squad after returning from an Achilles injury and Boothroyd says the Chelsea winger will continue his rehabilitation with the Young Lions.
"Callum has done very well. He's only at the start of his career and had a difficult injury," Boothroyd said. "We're almost part of his rehab really, to get him back to that place where he can challenge for a senior place.
"We only had him for about half an hour last time. He was having his dinner and before he'd finished the starter we had to send him back up to Gareth.
"It was nice to spend a few more hours with him. I think we're all right this time."
Hudson-Odoi is one of several young players impressing in Frank Lampard's side this season as a result of their transfer ban.
Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount are in the senior squad and Boothroyd believes Premier League teams might start differently about using younger players as a result of Chelsea's situation.
"It's terrific. It's what we've always wanted really," he said.
"Through what's happened at Chelsea and seeing the emergence of these players, it might seem a surprise to some, but when you work with them, I think all that is needed is for youngsters to get an opportunity.
"For too long we've had players who've reached a ceiling in development that they can't get through because they don't get the chance.
"What's happened at Chelsea is a great example of a team having to use young players and actually, they're not bad.
"What I will say is that it's certainly made people think differently, there's been a shift, because people are doing so well, the top scorer in the Premier League is an Englishman - and it's not Harry Kane, it's Tammy Abraham, a young player, 21 years old who's taken the chance he's been given."
