Sterling withdraws from England squad with back injury

London Sep 4 (IANS) Forward Raheem Sterling has withdrawn from the England football squad for the forthcoming international games against Spain and Switzerland with a back injury.
The English Football Association on Monday confirmed the decision with a press statement adding that head coach Gareth Southgate does not plan to call anyone else into his squad to replace the 23-year-old Manchester City star reports Xinhua news agency.
Sterling is a key player for Southgate starting six of England s seven games at this summer s World Cup. However his performances generated a lot of debate with supporters saying his pace and willingness to run at rival defences was one of England s main attacking threats while others argued that his actions too often lacked an end product.
Sterling has scored just 2 goals in 44 senior appearances for England a figure which contrasts sharply with the 18 league goals he scored for his club last season and the 2 he has netted in three appearances this season.
England will play Spain in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday with the players due to report for training on Tuesday morning.

--IANS pur/bg