UMVA has learned that a devastating blow has struck England's World Cup campaign, as promising young defender Tino Livramento has been ruled out of the tournament due to a calf injury.
The injury occurred during a training session on Sunday, just days before England's World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday. A subsequent scan and medical assessment confirmed that Livramento could play no further part in England's tournament.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Trevoh Chalobah, a Chelsea defender, has been called up to replace Livramento in Thomas Tuchel's squad. Chalobah was on England's standby list in the event of injury and will now join the team at their basecamp in Kansas City.
The rest of the squad will head to Dallas, Texas, for the Three Lions' opening group fixture against Croatia on Wednesday. FIFA regulations allow participating teams to replace an outfield player up to 24 hours before their opening fixture, making Chalobah's inclusion possible.
Livramento's absence will be deeply felt, as the Newcastle United defender had shown promise in recent friendlies, including a half-time substitute appearance during England's 1-0 win against New Zealand on June 6. Chalobah, who made 47 appearances for Chelsea last season, will now have to step up and make an impact in the tournament.
England's World Cup campaign will continue with a match against Ghana on June 23, followed by their final Group L game against Panama on June 27. The team will be eager to make a strong impression, especially with the challenges posed by Livramento's injury.
