Jude Bellingham suffers injury blow with Real Madrid star set to miss first England games under interim Three Lions boss Lee Carsley

The 21-year-old has been diagnosed with an injury to a muscle in his right leg and will be out of action until late September. That would see him miss both of England's Nations League matches against Ireland and Finland.

The Three Lions will play their first games since manager Gareth Southgate's departure following their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. Under 21s manager Lee Carsley has been trusted to lead the senior team on an interim basis, but he will have to start his reign off without star midfielder Bellingham.

A statement from Real Madrid said: "Following tests carried out today on our player Jude Bellingham by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the plantar thin muscle of his right leg."

The ex-Borussia Dortmund and Birmingham star will start his recovery while Madrid prepare to take on Real Valladolid in their next La Liga game on Sunday. England are set to face the Republic of Ireland and Finland next month, with Bellingham expected to miss both encounters.