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"While the injury is not considered to be serious, he will
return to Everton to be assessed," the club said in a statement
on their website (www.evertonfc.com)
No immediate replacement will be called up for the Everton
centre back, the FA added.
The 34-year-old, who has 39 international caps, will be the
third player to pull out from the initial England squad for the
qualifiers, following the withdrawals of Glen Johnson and Raheem
Sterling.
England host Malta at Wembley Stadium on Saturday before
travelling to take on Slovenia three days later.
England enjoyed a last-gasp 1-0 victory away to Slovakia in
their opening Group F game last month. The group also includes
Scotland and Lithuania. (Reporting by Nivedita Shankar in
Bengaluru; Editing by John O'Brien)
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