O'Reilly sent home from England squad with injury ahead of Croatia clash

Nico O’Reilly has been released from the England squad and will take no further part in the current UEFA Nations League international window, the Football Association confirmed, with the Manchester City left-back returning to his club for further assessment.

O’Reilly started all 90 minutes of England’s Nations League opener against Spain last Saturday, a 3-2 defeat at Wembley in which he was involved in the build-up to the visitors’ equaliser. He was then absent from Tuesday’s win in Czechia after picking up a problem in training, and will now miss Saturday’s trip to Rijeka to face Croatia as well as the following Tuesday’s home fixture against Czechia.

The FA confirmed there will be no replacement called into the squad for either remaining game. “Nico O’Reilly has returned to Manchester City and will play no part in the forthcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures,” the governing body’s statement read. “No further replacements are planned as the Three Lions prepare to face Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday before returning to Wembley to take on Czechia on Tuesday.”

O’Reilly’s early return raises questions about his availability for City’s Premier League trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday week — a fixture that already carries considerable weight following Manchester City’s guilty verdict on charges brought against them by the Premier League.

With O’Reilly sidelined, Newcastle’s Lewis Hall is set to retain the left-back berth for England. Hall played the full 90 minutes in Prague on Tuesday and is expected to start again in Saturday’s behind-closed-doors fixture in Rijeka.