Lee Carsley hits back at Pep Guardiola over Jack Grealish injury row

• Pep Guardiola questioned why an injured Jack Grealish had been called up for November’s Nations League fixtures
• The England forward subsequently pulled out the squad
• Lee Carsley has defended his selection process

Lee Carsley has dismissed Pep Guardiola’s spiky reaction to Jack Grealish’s England call-up, insisting there is constant communication between all the relevant medical departments.

Manchester City’s outspoken manager was quick to question exactly why Grealish was included in England’s squad for this month’s Nations League fixtures after the winger had spent the previous three weeks sidelined with a groin injury.

Guardiola revealed Grealish had missed 17 consecutive days of training and was not fit enough for City’s trip to Brighton last Saturday. “It’s a question for the [England] manager,” the Catalan coach sniffed. “I’m not involved in that, he can select him.”

Grealish was one of nine players to withdraw from Carsley’s squad, but the interim manager explained the process behind the forward’s call-up. “So the medical teams are constantly talking throughout squad selection, regardless of whether there are games or not,” the coach outlined. “We are constantly getting updates. The medical departments have brilliant communication between club and country.

“It was always the case we were going to get the players who were potentially going to miss out in to the assessed. Jack was one of them. He was assessed and sent back and it was as clear as that.”

Grealish’s City teammate Phil Foden also pulled out of Carsley’s squad, alongside Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and Aaron Ramsdale. Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite was one of five players called up as a replacement, but also had to withdraw ahead of Thursday’s crucial away game with Greece.

“November historically has always been a really challenging month for us with the number of the games the players are playing,” Carsley noted. “A lot of the injuries they carry need managing through games but historically we have lost a fair number of players in November.

“The plus side is that it gives us a chance to bring in other players and give them opportunities so we are still in a good place. We are really looking forward to the game. It’s a good chance for some of the players who are on standby. It’s a good opportunity.”