Loftus-Cheek added to England squad after Wharton injury

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been added to England’s squad for this month’s World Cup qualifiers after Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton suffered an adductor injury during Palace’s 3-0 Premier League win over Aston Villa on Sunday. The 29-year-old AC Milan midfielder is a late inclusion for matches against Andorra on September 6 and Serbia three days later, with the change made by England head coach Thomas Tuchel following Wharton’s setback.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner said after the match that scans would be carried out and that Wharton was unlikely to report for international duty. "Hopefully it is not too serious," Glasner said, adding that the club would proceed with imaging to determine the extent of the problem. The Football Association has not yet formally confirmed Wharton’s withdrawal, and some reports suggested his absence could last for up to two months.

Loftus-Cheek, who began his career at Chelsea and worked under Tuchel at Stamford Bridge, has 10 senior caps for England but has not played for the national side since coming on as a substitute against the United States in November 2018. He was included in England squads in 2019 but withdrew on one occasion. The...