ENGLAND have announced Ben White has left their World Cup camp and flown home due to personal reasons.
The Three Lions defender is not expected to rejoin the group in Qatar before the end of the tournament.
An FA statement confirmed: “Ben White has left England’s training base in Al Wakrah and returned home for personal reasons.
“The Arsenal defender is not expected to return to the squad for the remainder of the tournament.
“We ask that the player’s privacy is respected at this moment in time.”
White’s club, Arsenal, tweeted: “We’re all with you, Ben.”
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The 25-year-old has not played in any of England’s three games so far at the World Cup.
White was an unused sub in the first two games, and was not in the squad for the 3-0 win over Wales on Tuesday.
He missed training on Monday ahead of the game through illness.
Boss Gareth Southgate will now have a squad of 25 for the remainder of England’s campaign in Qatar.
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There will not be a replacement called up in his place.
The Three Lions gaffer already has plenty of defensive cover for first choice pairing Harry Maguire and John Stones in the form of Conor Coady and Eric Dier.
White can also play right-back but Southgate already has Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold to fill that position.
White, who has been capped four times by the Three Lions, has been in superb form for Arsenal this season.
The defender started all 14 Premier League games before the World Cup break, helping his side to the top of the table.
White’s exit from the camp comes after two England stars revealed their recent heartbreak.
Marcus Rashford dedicated his first goal against Wales to close friend Garfield Hayward, who passed away just days before the game.
And left-back Luke Shaw lost his nan just hours before the opening game of the World Cup against Iran.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
