Football
Jonathan Smith, Manchester City correspondent 8y

Joe Hart, Raheem Sterling out of England squad, Tom Heaton called up

Joe Hart and Raheem Sterling have pulled out of the England squad for Saturday's friendly with Germany on Saturday after picking up injuries in the 1-0 Manchester derby defeat to United, with Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton brought in.

Sterling limped off after just 26 minutes with a groin injury while goalkeeper Hart hurt his calf after clearing a poor backpass from Martin Demichelis and went off on a stretcher.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini said after the game that he expected them both to be out for up to a month.

England boss Roy Hodgson has not called up a replacement for Sterling but Heaton, who has yet to make a senior international appearance, returns to the squad as cover for Hart.

Hodgson said: "Obviously it's very disappointing for Joe and Raheem to suffer injuries which will rule them out of our games against Germany and Holland. They are important players in our squad and I wish them a speedy recovery.

"Tom has been with us on several occasions and I am welcoming him back into the fold."

Stoke's Jack Butland and Southampton's Fraser Forster will now compete for selection in this month's games, with a further three friendlies to be played before Euro 2016 begins in June.

England assistant coach Gary Neville, meanwhile, will delay joining up with the squad until Thursday to allow him to take Valencia training this week.

City midfielder Fabian Delph is also missing from the England squad after picking up an Achilles heel injury in February.

However, the 26-year-old ha returned to training and Pellegrini hopes he will play in an under-21 game during the international break along with Kevin De Bruyne and Samir Nasri, who have also been out with long-term injuries.

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