Man City forward Raheem Sterling to delay England meet-up as he attends royal event in Jamaica

Raheem Sterling will join up with Gareth Southgate’s England squad on Wednesday after being granted permission to attend a royal event in Jamaica.

According to The Athletic, the Manchester City attacker has been personally invited to the event by the Duke of Cambridge. The 27-year-old has previously spoken about the pride he has in his Jamaican heritage. In light of accepting the invitation, Sterling did not train with the Three Lions on Tuesday and instead will now join up with his teammates on Wednesday.

Sterling will be hoping to build on the 72 caps and 18 goals he has to his name in the upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and the Ivory Coast. Three other players did not take to the St George’s training pitch on Tuesday with Declan Rice, Emile Smith Rowe and Sam Johnstone all sitting out.

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Southgate has already had to make a number of alterations to the squad he named last week with Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James and Tammy Abraham all withdrawing. Johnstone was one of the replacements called in with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and full-backs Tyrick Mitchell and Kyle Walker-Peters also drafted.

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