Townsend replaces injured Raheem Sterling in England squad

Crystal Palace winger Andros Townsend has been called up to the England squad following the withdrawal of Raheem Sterling through injury.

Manchester City winger Sterling is ruled out of the upcoming games against Malta and Slovenia with a thigh injury, meaning Townsend returns to the group for the first time since the pre-Euro 2016 friendlies against Turkey and Australia.

The 25-year-old Townsend, who has 11 caps and three international goals to his name, has impressed since joining Palace from Newcastle United in the summer.

The wide-man has been an ever-present for the Eagles in the Premier League this term, scoring in last month’s 4-1 win over Stoke City.

Sterling played 87 minutes of Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday. He follows Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne and Danny Drinkwater in pulling out of interim manager Gareth Southgate’s first squad.

Southgate named his squad for England’s next two World Cup qualifiers on Sunday evening, with the players due to report to St. George’s Park on Tuesday.

England host Malta at Wembley on Saturday before travelling to Ljubljana to take on Slovenia on October 11.