Sterling out for England with injury

Raheem Sterling has withdrawn from England’s games against Spain and Switzerland with a back injury.

Gareth Southgate was already short of forwards, after Jamie Vardy effectively announced his international retirement last week, but the England manager has decided against calling up a replacement for Sterling.

That means he has only Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Danny Welbeck as options up front for Saturday’s Uefa Nations League game against Spain at Wembley and next week’s friendly with Switzerland.

Rashford is in pole position to partner Kane against Spain. Another option would be for Southgate to push Dele Alli further forward and play him off the captain, as he often does for Tottenham, freeing up a potential return for Adam Lallana in midfield.

England’s opponents also have issues up front, as Diego Costa has pulled out of the Spain squad with personal problems.

Meanwhile, Denmark’s preparations for their Nations League game against Wales on Sunday are in turmoil after a row over commercial rights left the Danish Football Association pleading with uncapped players from the lower divisions to fulfil the fixture.

Senior players from the squad, including Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen and Leicester City’s Kasper Schmeichel, are refusing to accept a new national team agreement.

The players’ union wants sponsorship deals to continue to focus on the team and not individuals.

The DBU warned that Danish football could be returned “to the Stone Ages” and facing a Uefa ban and huge fine if the national team cannot play what is their first match in the Nations League competition.