Southampton news: Taylor Harwood-Bellis leaves England Under-21 camp through injury

England Under-21 skipper Taylor Harwood-Bellis has returned to Southampton for a scan on a thigh injury.

The centre-back was forced off in Friday’s 5-3 friendly defeat in France and left St George’s Park over the weekend before Monday’s game with Portugal.

Southampton, bottom of the Premier League, do not play again until 2 April when they host Crystal Palace.

Boss Lee Carsley said: “Taylor’s been sent back to the club, he’ll get a scan on his thigh. It seemed OK but we’ve said in the past we’ll never take any chances with the players. As soon as there’s an issue they go back to the club.”

Harwood-Bellis – who scored on his senior debut against Ireland under Carsley in November – was replaced by Charlie Cresswell after 62 minutes of the defeat in Lorient.

The Young Lions – who won the tournament in 2023 under Carsley – are preparing for Euro 2025 this summer where they will face the Czech Republic, Germany and Slovenia in Slovakia.