Graham Potter says Mason Mount will miss England camp despite call up

Chelsea manager Graham Potter says Mason Mount will not link up with England, less than 24 hours after the midfielder received a call-up from Gareth Southgate.

Despite his recent struggles, Mount was included in Southgate’s 25-man squad that will face Italy and Ukraine in the upcoming 2024 European Championship qualifiers.

However, the 24-year-old has been withdrawn from the squad, with Chelsea unwilling to risk an injury relapse as the midfielder recovers from a pelvic problem.

Club teammate Raheem Sterling, who has endured his fair share of injury problems, also missed out on Southgate’s squad as he recovers from a ‘not too serious’ hamstring issue.

Speaking in his pre-match conference ahead of Saturday’s high-stakes clash with relegation-threatened Everton, Potter confirmed that both players will miss the weekend tie as well as the international trip.

“Raheem has a problem with his hamstring,” Potter told reporters (via the Telegraph). 

“It’s not too serious, but he’ll miss the game at the weekend and the international trip. It’s the same with Mason. He’ll miss the England camp as well.”

Mount has started 20 of his 23 Premier League appearances this season with a paltry three goals and two assists to show for it, but he remains an integral part of Potter’s squad.

The Englishman has not featured since the 2-0 defeat against local neighbours Tottenham Hotspur at the tail end of last month, sitting out three consecutive wins against Leeds United, Borussia Dortmund and Leicester City.

However, Chelsea are unwilling to risk aggravating injuries to their key players with big games coming up after the international break, including a mouth-watering showdown with Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Mount’s omission leaves Southgate short on midfield options, and the English tactician will need to decide whether or not to call up a replacement.

Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White are among the players who could be considered.