Sterling out as party trio left waiting

RAHEEM Sterling has withdrawn from the England squad for Thursday’s friendly against Wales through injury.

The forward sustained the problem during Manchester City’s 1-1 draw with Leeds on Saturday, a game in which he scored.

Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho are also unlikely to face Ryan Giggs’s men in the Wembley encounter.

The trio’s arrival for England duty has been delayed following reports they attended a party in breach of coronavirus regulations.

The two Chelsea players and Sancho (right) were seen in a video published by The Sun at a party in London with more than six people – breaking the UK Government’s ‘rule of six’ Covid19 guidelines – on Saturday evening.

As a result the three men did not join up with the rest of Gareth Southgate’s squad at St George’s Park on Monday while the Football Association collects more information.

Southgate, whose side also face Belgium and Denmark in the next nine days, had warned his players to be on their best behaviour after he had to drop Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood after they were sent home for breaching protocols while with the England squad in Iceland only last month.

A statement from the FA read: “As a precaution to understand if there is any risk to the wider group, the arrival of Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho will be delayed.

“This is to allow time to gather further information of a social gathering that all three players reportedly attended over the weekend.”