Bukayo Saka has withdrawn from the England squad for the upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast after testing positive for Covid.
The Arsenal winger tested negative on arriving at St. George’s Park on Tuesday but has not trained since and been confined to his room after feeling unwell.
His latest test on Thursday revealed a positive result and Saka will now return home, with England not planning to call a replacement into the squad.
In a tweet, Saka wrote: “I am gutted to withdraw from @england camp but I have tested positive for Covid-19 and I will be isolating until I am negative.
“I’ll be supporting the boys from home this weekend and I can’t wait to be being back doing what I love soon”.
Saka’s withdrawal leaves Gareth Southgate with 24 players for the double-header following a number of alterations since the initial squad was named a week ago.
Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Tammy Abraham and Sam Johnstone have already withdrawn through injury, with Tyrick Mitchell, Kyle Walker-Peters, Ollie Watkins and Fraser Forster coming in.
England face the Swiss on Saturday before the Ivory Coast visit the national stadium on Tuesday night as they continue the countdown to next winter’s Qatar World Cup.
