England call for Gibbs SAMI MOKBEL
ARSENAL left back Kieran Gibbs has cut short a mid-season break in Dubai to help ease England’s defensive crisis.
Gibbs has received a late call-up to the squad for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifying clash against Slovenia He has been drafted in as cover for Danny Rose, after Ryan Bertrand sustained a hamstring injury early in the first half during Saturday’s win over Malta.
Rose, too, has been suffering with a hamstring problem, which was why he was not in the starting line- up at Wembley on Saturday. England’s interim manager Gareth Southgate is hopeful the Tottenham defender will be fit to start tomorrow.
Nevertheless, Gibbs met up with the squad last night and will train at Spurs’ Enfield HQ this morning before boarding the flight to Ljubljana.
In addition to Bertrand, Southgate has seen defenders Glen Johnson and Phil Jagielka withdraw from his squad, while Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was last night drafted in to replace Tom Heaton, who has a minor knock.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had given Gibbs permission to have a few days off during the international break.
But the 27- year- old player moved quickly to ensure he was available given his desire to play for his country again.
Gibbs was at the centre of controversy in March when, in similar circumstances, Roy Hodgson called up the defender for the friendly against Holland.
At that time Gibbs was on another mid- season break — this time in America — and was unable to catch a flight home to England in time.