Alex Scott withdraws from England squad for Czech Republic Nations League match with injury

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has withdrawn from the England squad to face the Czech Republic on Tuesday with a thigh injury.

The 23-year-old is set to be out for six to eight weeks with the quadriceps issue.

Scott was excellent on his full debut as England defeated Croatia 7-0 in the Nations League on Saturday.

He felt the issue prior to the match, but played 70 minutes in central midfield alongside Elliot Anderson before being substituted.

Arsenal defender Ezri Konsa has also been ruled out of the fixture at Wembley as a precautionary measure, with the 28-year-old to return to the Premier League champions for treatment on an injury.

England coach Thomas Tuchel described Scott’s injury as “a strange one” in his Monday news conference.

“I’m very sad about it. He trained in full before Croatia, did extra work after the training sessions, we knew he was in treatment but there were only green lights from him and the medics,” said Tuchel.

“When we were aware there was slight discomfort during the match and asked if he wanted to come off he said no. After the match, he said he could have played 90 minutes and didn’t feel an injury.

“Even before the scan he didn’t feel injured so it’s a strange one. There was zero risk taken from our side.”

Tuchel said that Konsa’s issues were “nothing major but not worth the risk taking” after the centre-back first missed the match with the Czech Republic on 29 September and then sustained an injury against Croatia.

“Ezri felt discomfort when he came into camp, played with it against Spain and it got a bit worse so he stayed in camp and tried everything for the match against the Czech Republic and it came too soon,” Tuchel added.

“Unfortunately, he got another hit on the quad and that caused a light trauma and we decided not to let him play through this pain, so he left camp to get treatment for both his issues now.”

Scott is now likely to be absent for the nine games Bournemouth are due to play between 10 October and 8 November.

Alongside their weekend Premier League commitments, the south coast side will play on Wednesday or Thursday for four consecutive weeks, facing Sturm Graz, AC Milan and Sparta Prague in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Scott made his England debut in a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Prague on Tuesday, before his full debut four days later, after which Tuchel was effusive with his praise.

“First start and what a start, what a performance,” said Tuchel. “He is so smooth on the ball, his decision making is at the highest level.

“He plays with so much confidence. He is so active, so confident. The work rate off the ball.

“He is just the complete package. He gave us a lot of mobility and a lot of variety and work rate in the centre of the pitch.”

Scott joins French forward Eli Junior Kroupi on Bournemouth’s injury list, with the 20-year-old still unavailable after sustaining a foot problem in pre-season.

The Cherries are 17th in the Premier League and are winless after five matches, drawing three times and losing twice.

Marco Rose’s side defeated Lincoln to progress in the EFL Cup, and won 2-1 at La Liga side Real Sociedad on their European debut.

They return to Premier League action at Chelsea on Saturday (15:00 BST) and play Sunderland, Manchester United, Leeds and Ipswich prior to the November international break.