Now Reading: Burn Called Up as Injured Guehi Pulls Out of England Squad
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Burn Called Up as Injured Guehi Pulls Out of England Squad
Burn Called Up as Injured Guehi Pulls Out of England Squad
England’s defensive plans have been shaken up. Dan Burn has been drafted into Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the Nations League clashes with Croatia and Spain after Marc Guehi was ruled out with a hip injury. The Manchester City centre-back’s withdrawal removes one of Tuchel’s most reliable defenders just before two huge fixtures.
Guehi Ruled Out After Half-Time Withdrawal
The problem surfaced on Saturday during Manchester City’s defeat at Nottingham Forest. Guehi was substituted at half-time, and manager Enzo Maresca said afterwards that the centre-back had asked to come off because of the injury.
BBC Sport revealed on Sunday that the 26-year-old was having a scan to establish how serious the ongoing issue is. He has now been ruled out of this week’s matches.
Forest went on to claim their first home win of the season in that game, with Delap scoring twice.
A Big Loss for Tuchel
The former Crystal Palace captain has been a mainstay of Tuchel’s team since the German was appointed England head coach in January 2025. Guehi started all but one of England’s games at the World Cup. He also started all four of the team’s Nations League fixtures in September and October.
Losing a player with that kind of record is a real blow, particularly with Spain waiting in Madrid.
Burn Gets the Call
Newcastle’s Dan Burn steps in as the replacement. The 34-year-old has 11 international caps and was part of Tuchel’s World Cup squad, where he made two substitute appearances.
Burn missed the previous international break with an ankle injury, so this call-up marks a return to the England fold. His height and experience give Tuchel a different type of option at the back.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Player | Club | Age | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marc Guehi | Manchester City | 26 | Ruled out with hip injury |
| Dan Burn | Newcastle | 34 | 11 England caps, called up as replacement |
Croatia and Spain Await
England’s schedule is demanding. They host Croatia at Wembley on Thursday, then travel to Madrid on Saturday to face World Cup winners Spain.
Those are two tests against top-level opposition, and the defence will be under the spotlight in both.
Fixtures This Week
| Date | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday | England vs Croatia | Wembley |
| Saturday | Spain vs England | Madrid |
What It Means for England’s Defence
Guehi’s consistency under Tuchel made him close to a fixture in the back line. Without him, England must adjust their partnerships and could look to the other centre-backs in the squad to take on more responsibility.
Burn’s arrival adds depth and a familiar face from the World Cup group. How Tuchel reshuffles the defence will be one of the main talking points before kick-off against Croatia.
Manchester City will also be waiting on the scan results to understand how long Guehi could be sidelined at club level. For now, the focus shifts to who steps up for England, and whether Burn can make the most of his opportunity.
Looking Ahead
Tuchel has little time to react, with matches coming in quick succession. A home game against Croatia followed by a trip to the world champions leaves no room for settling in. Burn’s call-up shows the manager is leaning on proven squad members to keep England’s defensive base steady.
