Dele Alli ruled out of England vs Switzerland with 'minor muscle strain'

Alli played the entire match against Spain but has returned to Tottenham for further checks

Jack Watson
Monday 10 September 2018 12:32 BST
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Dele Alli played the entire game against Spain on Saturday night
Dele Alli played the entire game against Spain on Saturday night (REUTERS)

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A minor muscle strain has ruled Dele Alli out of England's friendly against Switzerland on Tuesday night, the Football Association have announced.

Alli picked up the problem while playing the full 90 minutes in England's 2-1 defeat against Spain in their opening Nations League match at Wembley on Saturday.

The midfielder has now withdrawn from the squad and will return to Tottenham, where he will receive further checks ahead of their Premier League clash with Liverpool on Saturday.

Manager Gareth Southgate is expected to make wholesale changes to his side, having handed Leicester duo Ben Chillwell and Demarai Gray their first senior England ahead of the friendly at the King Power Stadium.

Luke Shaw was stretchered off in a neck brace and with an oxygen mask following a collision with Dani Carvajal but is in a "fairly comfortable" condition, while Harry Kane continued to look lethargic up front, and Marcus Rashford's fitness was assessed on Monday, but he remains expected to take part.

Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling both withdrew from the original squad early last week.

"We have to give the other players that haven't played a start," said Southgate, who will rotate his side as a matter of choice and force given the mounting injuries.

"It's important for their development, physically there are a lot of players that haven't had a game of football yet this year."

Ruben Loftus-Cheek could make his first start of the season alongside Eric Dier and Fabian Delph in midfield, while Kyle Walker and James Tarkowski are thought to come into the defence.

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