Bournemouth star gets first England call-up after Ezri Konsa blow

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Bournemouth defender James Hill has been called up to the England squad for the first time, with Ezri Konsa being ruled out of Thursday’s Nations League game against Croatia.

Arsenal star Konsa will not be available for the World Cup rematch with Croatia at Wembley in another hit to Thomas Tuchel’s defensive options, following the withdrawal of Marc Guehi, although it is hoped the 29-year-old will be back in contention to face Spain in Madrid on Sunday.

That has prompted Tuchel to give 24-year-old Hill, who has impressed for Bournemouth last season and has become a even more important member of a flying Cherries side this term, a maiden call-up.

A statement released by England said: “AFC Bournemouth defender James Hill has received his first call up to the England squad. The 24-year-old, who represented his nation at MU20 and MU21 level, has joined the Three Lions ahead of the forthcoming Uefa Nations League fixtures.

“Meanwhile, Ezri Konsa will not be in contention for Croatia at Wembley on Thursday as he continues to follow his own programme but will return to full training later this week before Sunday’s trip to Spain.”

As the statement says, Hill does have experience with England at youth level, making four appearances for the Under-20s between 2021 and 2022 after debuting when he played for Fleetwood, before winning a sole cap for the Under-21s away to Kosovo in June 2022.

He has played 15 times for the Cherries this season, being a staple of their team in both the Premier League and Europa League and helping them to eight straight wins in all competitions heading into the international break.

Meanwhile, Konsa has also featured 15 times for his club this season, admirably standing in for the injured William Saliba to form a fearsome partnership with Gabriel at the heart of Arsenal’s defence, following his £55m summer move from Aston Villa.

Last week, he picked up a knock to his knee during the 2-1 Champions League win over Slavia Prague and was subbed off for Cristhian Mosquera in the 61st minute, although Gunners boss Mikel Arteta insisted afterwards this was simply managing his minutes during a busy period.

In his press conference on Friday ahead of the weekend’s clash with Hull, Arteta brushed off any injury concerns, saying of Konsa: “He’s fine – he was feeling much better today. We took him out on Wednesday for a precaution, but yesterday and today he’s been feeling good.” Konsa would go on to play 90 minutes in the 1-0 victory over the Tigers.

England didn’t specify what his issue was that prompted the call-up of Hill but the Bournemouth man is the second late centre-back addition made by Tuchel after Guehi pulled out of the squad due to injury on Monday – having come off at half-time of Man City’s weekend defeat to Nottingham Forest – leading to the return of Newcastle defender Dan Burn.

It is the first time Burn has been in the Three Lions squad since the World Cup, after being left out for September and October’s games, and he provides another option at the heart of defence alongside Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah and Arsenal’s Ben White, although the latter has been used exclusively as a right-back by the Gunners this season.