JOE GOMEZ and Jordan Henderson have been ruled out of England qualifier’s in Kosovo tomorrow through injury.
The news means Gomez will not have to line-up in the same team as Raheem Sterling, set to return to Gareth Southgate’s XI.
Sterling was dropped for the 7-0 win over Montenegro following his altercation with Gomez at the England training camp on Monday.
Gomez, 22, booed by Three Lions fans on Thursday, has sustained an knee injury and is out.
Liverpool team-mate Henderson has a virus so he will also miss out.
Southgate was left stunned when Gomez was targeted by a minority of England supporters at Wembley on Thursday, and he hit out at them in his media briefings after the game.
Gomez and Sterling clashed in the latter stages of Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Manchester City last week.
That animosity continued into the England camp’s meet up when Sterling reportedly asked if if he was “still the big man”.
He then reportedly got him on a headlock, which left the centre-half with a mark near his eye, cause by Sterling’s jewellery.
Southgate brought on Gomez for the last 20 minutes against Montenegro.
He had hoped to give him a full game against Kosovo now the group game is effectively a dead rubber.
But Gomez, visibly upset by the reaction to his substitution by the home fans three days ago, will return to Anfield for treatment.
The Three Lions boss is now more likely to partner Harry Maguire with John Stones again, although a second cap for Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings is not out of the question.
Henderson’s place is likely to go to Harry Winks, who played in the 7-0 win on Thursday.
Sterling is likely to join Marcus Rashford and Tammy Abraham in attack against the Kosovans as Southgate shuffles his pack.
The Manchester City striker, 24, was forced to condemn the England fans who booed Gomez after the Montenegro victory.
He posted on Twitter: “it was hard for me to see my team mate get booed for something that was my fault.
“Joe hasnt done anything wrong & for me to see someone who keeps his head down and work hard..”
Reds chiefs will assess Gomez’ injury but hope he will be okay to return to the Premier League leaders’ squad for their trip to Crystal palace next Saturday.
