Billing surgery keeps him out until New Year
TOWN midfielder Philip Billing will be out for 12 weeks with an ankle injury picked up in the Terriers’ 2-0 defeat to Swansea earlier this month.
The Denmark Under 21 international was carried off on a stretcher at the Liberty Stadium after a Rajiv Van La Parra pass struck his leg in the 60th minute, causing him to damage the lateral ligament complex of his right ankle.
The ankle requires surgery, with the club expecting a three-month recuperation period for the 6’6” midfielder.
On the injury, Town head coach David Wagner said: “Phil has had surgery on his ankle and we would all like to wish him a speedy recovery.
“The focus now is to help him return fitter and stronger than before, so he is ready to help us for the rest of the Premier League season.”
Billing has made nine appearances for Town so far this season, scoring once in the 2-1 EFL Cup win over Rotherham in August. ■■Rhian Brewster scored a hat-trick as England beat Brazil 3-1 in Kolkata to reach the Under-17 World Cup final.
The 17-year-old Liverpool forward, who also netted a treble in the quarter-final win over the United States, broke the deadlock at the Salt Lake Stadium with a close-range finish on 10 minutes.
Brazil equalised 11 minutes later through Wesley, but England regained the lead before half-time when Brewster was on hand to knock in a low cross from Fulham full-back Steven Sessegnon.
Victory was wrapped up when the Liverpool teenager fired home a cross from Manchester City’s Phil Foden, with Spain confirmed as their opponents in Saturday’s final after overcoming Mali 3-1 in the other semi-final.
Brewster is confident the England squad can lift themselves for Saturday’s final, writing on Twitter: “No words to describe how we all feel right now!! One last big push ahead fully focused on that now £U17WorldCup @England “
The run from Steve Cooper’s side follows on from reaching the final of the European Championships in May and continues a summer of success by the England youth squads.
England Under-20s won the World Cup in South Korea and also the Toulon Tournament, while the under-19s lifted their version of the European Championship in Georgia in July.
The Young Lions, who won their three group games and then saw off Japan on penalties in the last 16, had started brightly in humid conditions.
Chelsea winger Callum HudsonOdoi found Foden on the edge of the penalty area, but he pulled his shot wide.
Goalkeeper Curtis Anderson saved from Marcos Antonio, before England swept into the lead on 10 minutes.