Newcastle’s Barnes replaces Eze in England squad

Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes has been called up to Thomas Tuchel’s England squad to replace injured Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze.

Eze was not in Arsenal’s squad for Sunday’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat by Manchester City because of a lower leg injury.

Barnes has been called up once before, in October 2020, when he won his only England cap in a friendly against Wales.

Scotland had tried to convince Barnes to switch his international allegiances and play for Steve Clarke’s team at this summer’s World Cup, with the 28-year-old eligible through his grandparents.

But Barnes turned down Scotland’s advances and he has now been called up to Tuchel’s squad for friendles against Uruguay and Japan in which a number of fringe players will be given chances to stake a claim for a regular place.

The Three Lions face Uruguay on 27 March and Japan on 31 March, with both games at Wembley Stadium.