Thomas Tuchel has been handed a couple more fitness headaches (Picture: Getty Images)
Thomas Tuchel’s England squad is preparing for the clash with Czech Republic on Tuesday but are doing so without Ezri Konsa and Nico O’Reilly.
Both the Arsenal and Manchester City stars played the full game on Saturday as the Three Lions lost 3-2 to Spain at Wembley.
There is little rest during this hectic international break, with Tuchel’s men back in action in Prague on Tuesday.
Konsa and O’Reilly have not been ruled out of that match yet, but they are not in training with their teammates on Monday.
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With two more matches still to play after this one – against Croatia and then Czech Republic again – they may well be rested for the second of the four games.
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A statement from the England camp read: ‘Ezri Konsa and Nico O’Reilly are following their own individual programmes at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground this morning.
‘All other 22 players are involved in group training ahead of the squad departing for Prague this afternoon 💪.’
Ezri Konsa played the entirety of the defeat to Spain (Picture: Getty Images)
Konsa and O’Reilly have provided the latest selection headaches for Tuchel after a string of withdrawals from his initial squad.
Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Tino Livramento all pulled out before the Spain contest.
The Three Lions boss does have options to replace Konsa and O’Reilly, though, with Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite and Como’s Trevoh Chalobah available at centre-back.
Jarell Quansah could also move into a central position from right-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold a possibility to come in on the right of defence.
Newcastle’s Lewis Hall is a possibility to replace O’Reilly at left-back, while Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly could also fill in there.
Nico O’Reilly was busy in attack and defence against Spain (Picture: Getty Images)
Tuchel has questioned the new set-up of the current international break, squeezing four matches into a short spell from September 26 to October 6.
‘I can hardly think of a period in club football where you have matches and a turnaround like we have now,’ he said.
‘We have Saturday-Tuesday and then another Saturday-Tuesday, so only two days in between each game. That sounds too condensed if you have two-and-a-half weeks together. It does not feel 100 per cent right, I have to say.’
