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Jordon Ibe and Brendan Galloway injury doubts for England U21 Euro 2017 Qualifiers

England U21 manager Gareth Southgate during a press conference at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre, Brighton
Image: Gareth Southgate is already missing several key players

Gareth Southgate has doubts over the fitness of Jordon Ibe and Brendan Galloway ahead of England U21's Euro 2017 qualifying double-header.

Southgate is awaiting news on the fitness of Ibe and Galloway as his side prepare for Thursday's game in Bosnia and Monday's visit of Switzerland.

Ibe came off in Liverpool's 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday with a suspected hamstring injury, whilst Galloway, who is yet to make his England debut, is being treated by the medical team at St George's Park after playing in Everton's 1-1 draw at West Ham.

Southgate said "Jordon is being assessed by the club, we're waiting for the outcome of that, hopefully he is okay and can travel, if not maybe we'd have to think about whether there's another replacement to bring in."

Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe has set his sights on an England senior call-up.
Image: A suspected hamstring injury may keep Jordon Ibe out of Southgate's plans this week

"Brendan is being assessed now, he is with us. It's a muscular injury but we don't want to take any chances. Maybe he is okay for Thursday; maybe he is okay for Monday. We don't know."

Southgate is already without injured Norwich winger Nathan Redmond while Tottenham pair Eric Dier and Dele Alli have moved up to the senior squad.

Redmond missed Norwich's 1-0 win over Swansea at the weekend - with Birmingham's Demarai Gray earning his first U21 call-up as a replacement.

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Southgate added: "Nathan called pretty much straight away to let me know he wasn't going to be available. He recognises he's a senior player in the group and there's a role to play."

England enter the game in Bosnia with six points from their previous two games leaving them third in Group 9, and have a chance of going top of the group if they can come away four points from both fixtures.

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