Liverpool star Curtis Jones LEAVES England squad along with Bukayo Saka

© IMAGO

England face Finland in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday and travel to Helsinki without two more stars following their withdrawals. 

The Three Lions suffered an embarrassing loss on home soil to Greece on Thursday night, setting back the Lee Carsley regime.

Read more: If Saka is world-class, what does that make Salah?

Two goals from Benfica's Vangelis Pavlidis decided the contest in the Greeks' favour, following a difficult few days for the nation due to the death of George Baldock.

Carsley's men will want to bounce back in their Nations League Group B2 match at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium on October 13.

Finland were defeated by Caoimhin Kelleher's Ireland on Thursday, leaving them stranded at the bottom of the table on zero points.

England will be widely expected to pick up the three points having downed the Eagle Owls by two Harry Kane goals to nil at Wembley back in September.

Saka and Jones leave England squad

But it's now been reported that a key first-team player in Bukayo Saka will be unavailable for the game having picked up a knock in the Greece defeat.

That could have a crucial knock-on effect for Liverpool's fellow Premier League title contenders Arsenal, who rely heavily on Saka as a creative force.

And one of Liverpool's England international call-ups, Curtis Jones, won't be there either having left the squad to attend to a personal matter.

Jones waiting to kickstart international career

Jones, 23, is still waiting for his national team career to really get going having starred under Carsley for the under-21s previously.

He was a UEFA European Under-21 champion with Carsley in 2023, later being drafted into the senior set-up ahead of Euro 2024.

Jones didn't make the final list but was brought into the squad last week by Carsley ahead of the Wembley showdown against the Greeks.

He has still not managed a senior England appearance however and that wait will have to go on a little longer.

Nonetheless, thanks to an impressive start to the season for the Reds under Arne Slot, international honours will come Curtis' way sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, Jones and partner Saffie Khan are due to become parents any day now.

LFC Store Black Friday Sale

Save up to 25%! Free delivery on orders over £80

Related News

FSG financial DISASTER, Hughes ABSENT, Tsimikas OUT - Liverpool FC News Recap

Where is Richard Hughes as Liverpool face contract CHAOS?

The €110m BLACK HOLE at the centre of FSG's failed Salah negotiations