Ankle injury leaves Tottenham midfielder a doubt for England duty

Further tests will be conducted to determine whether Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks is able to take part with England during the international break.

Winks was named in Gareth Southgate’s 25-man squad for friendlies against Germany and Brazil last week but is now a doubt after twisting his ankle at the weekend.

The 21-year-old was replaced at half-time during Tottenham’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday and Mauricio Pochettino has conceded he is unsure whether Winks will be available for the Three Lions.

“He twisted his ankle. It’s a little bit painful,” the London Evening Standard quote Pochettino as saying. “We must assess him with our medical staff and with the national team medical staff too. He’s so excited to play for the national team.

“I don't know (if he can play). It’s about him and both medical staff.”

Winks’ withdrawal would be another major set back for Southgate ahead of two huge friendlies having already lost his Tottenham team-mate, Dele Alli, to a hamstring injury.

The Tottenham youth product has enjoyed a thoroughly impressive spell in the first-team in recent months, which included two sublime performances against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Harry Kane’s availability was also in doubt for England, but Pochettino has since confirmed the Premier League star will be fit and ready to play for Southgate’s side.

Winks made his England debut in a 1-0 win away to Lithuania at the start of October and capped the performance with the WhoScored Man of the Match award.