Arsenal defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy has had to withdraw from his first participation with the England u18s due to an injury.

Last week, Brooke Norton-Cuffy was one of five Arsenal players called up to the England youth teams – from the u18s to the u21s. In Norton-Cuffy’s case, he was set to join the u18s and take on Wales on Friday, 3rd September.

Unfortunately, England have since confirmed that Norton-Cuffy has withdrawn with an injury.

Confirmation of the injury explains a rather strange set of circumstances last week. Norton-Cuffy had been called up to train with the Arsenal first-team squad on Thursday, but he was then absent for both the u23 game on Friday and the u18 game on Saturday.

That was a little unusual, as you’d expect that if he was performing well enough to be involved with the first team that he’d get a start with at least one of the youth teams. But the logical conclusion now is that he picked up a knock during that session forcing him out of action.