England hit by injury withdrawal ahead of the final World Cup qualifier against Albania

Marc Guehi has withdrawn from England’s camp ahead of Thomas Tuchel’s side’s final World Cup qualifier against Albania on Sunday evening.

The Crystal Palace defender joined up with the squad for their training camp at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this week, but was left out of the side for Thursday night’s 2-0 victory against Serbia due to a continuous foot issue.

Tuchel had previously shared that Guehi had been sitting out training due to the ‘very painful’ injury, but hoped he might be fit to be included in the Albania clash.

But Guehi has now returned to Palace to focus on his rehabilitation, with England set to make the journey to Albanian capital Tirana with a squad of 24 players.

Guehi has become a defensive lynchpin that Tuchel would rather not do without since taking up the position as England head coach, a fact which he stressed when giving the press an injury update ahead of facing Serbia.

“Everybody is in training in the afternoon except for Marc Guehi,” Tuchel said. ‘With Marc it is very painful but there is no structural damage so it is all about the pain.

Thomas Tuchel will have to go without Marc Guehi as he travels to Tirana with England’s squad

The Crystal Palace defender continues to nurse a ‘very painful’ foot injury and has returned to south London

“There is the possibility that from one day to the other there is a significant improvement so we are working realistically towards the second game.

‘If he is not in training on Friday and not able to train on Saturday then we will not make him travel with us and he will of course get rest and treatment.

‘We want him to stay with us, want him to stay close. He is one of the leaders, he is an important member of the team. He is glue between many players and it is nice to see that he is trying everything to be included in the second game. We will assess him every day.’

Guehi’s defensive expertise has also contributed to England building a formidable record, with the team extending a national record against Serbia this week with their 10th consecutive clean sheet win.

Their 100 percent win record in their World Cup qualifying ties have seen the Three Lions top Group K, and sit seven points clear of second-placed Albania with a mammoth haul of 21 points.