Aston Villa suffer major injury blow as Newcastle United star set to benefit ahead of England v Albania
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England team news: Dan Burn could start for England against Albania this afternoon following an injury to Ezri Konsa.
Dan Burn could be handed an opportunity to start for England later today when they face Albania in their final World Cup qualifying match.
The Three Lions have won all seven of their qualifying matches to date and have done so without conceding a single goal. A victory against Albania this evening (5pm kick-off) will ensure Tuchel’s side end the qualifiers with a perfect record as they begin their preparations for next summer’s World Cup.
Burn, who was first drafted into the England squad by Tuchel in March, will be keen to impress the German and secure his place on the plane to USA, Mexico and Canada next summer. Whilst the Magpies man has been an ever-present in Tuchel’s squads since earning his maiden call-up, he has not become a regular starter under the former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss.
Burn was an unused substitute during England’s win over Serbia on Thursday and hasn’t started in any of England’s last four matches. Burn’s last start for England came back in September during their 2-0 win over Andorra at Villa Park.
However, he could reportedly find his name on Tuchel’s teamsheet in Tirana this afternoon.
Dan Burn handed England start v Albania?
Speaking to the media ahead of England’s game with Albania, Tuchel revealed that Ezri Konsa would miss out due to injury. The Aston Villa man has a calf issue and has not travelled to Albania with the England squad.
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“Ezri has a tight calf and couldn’t finish training today,” Tuchel said. “He will get further assessment in London and he’s stayed in London. We think it’s nothing, we don’t even think it’s an injury, but it’s just a discomfort and not worth the risk.”
Asked whether that injury would complicate matters in defence, Tuchel added: “Yes and no. They were very strong, Ezri in particular in all the matches he’s played, but at the same time he played a lot for Aston Villa.
“He arrived with a lot of minutes in camp so he was a candidate to maybe get a break. Now he’s taken the break and is forced to take a break, it’s not a problem.”
Burn may be the beneficiary of Konsa’s omission this evening and would seem the natural replacement for the Villa man in Tuchel’s defence. England defeated Albania 2-0 in the reverse fixture back in March in a game that saw Burn win his first-ever international cap.
Goals from fellow debutant Myles Lewis-Skelly and England’s all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane sealed a win for England in Tuchel’s first match in charge.
Speaking ahead of that game about being called-up to the national team for the first time, Burn said: “He [Tuchel] said I’ve been playing well for a long time. I’m not just coming in to be a cheerleader, I want to play. I feel like I have the ability to play at international level.
“The manager Facetimed me on Tuesday, saying he was debating calling me up. I didn’t hear anything until I got a text at 10pm asking if I was still awake. I said yes, FaceTimed him. He told me the good news, and I struggled to sleep after that.”