Bournemouth defender James Hill has received his first England call-up, serving as an emergency replacement for Arsenal’s Ezri Konsa. The 24-year-old centre-back was added to Thomas Tuchel’s squad after Konsa was ruled out of Thursday’s UEFA Nations League fixture against Croatia at Wembley. Hill, who joined the Cherries from Fleetwood in January 2022, is set to make his senior international debut in a high-stakes group stage encounter.
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Konsa’s absence stems from a knee injury sustained during Arsenal’s Champions League victory at Slavia Prague on Wednesday. Although the defender played the full 90 minutes in Saturday’s win over Hull City, medical staff have deemed him unfit for the Croatia match. He is expected to return to full training this week, potentially making him available for England’s subsequent trip to Madrid to face Spain on Sunday.
This selection follows a turbulent week for England’s defensive line, which saw Dan Burn replace Marc Guehi on Sunday after the Crystal Palace defender withdrew with a hip injury. With two centre-backs already missing from the original squad, Hill’s inclusion highlights the depth of Tuchel’s options as the Three Lions prepare for a crucial double-header in the Nations League.
Source: BBC Sport
