Bournemouth defender James Hill has earned his first call-up to the senior England squad ahead of their upcoming Nations League fixtures. The 24-year-old joins the national setup as defensive cover following an injury setback for Ezri Konsa.
Konsa Sidelined for Croatia Encounter
Konsa has been ruled out of contention for Thursday’s fixture against Croatia at Wembley as he continues an individual recovery programme. The defender is expected to resume full training later this week ahead of Sunday’s match against Spain.
The Football Association confirmed the squad update in an official statement, noting: “The 24-year-old, who represented his nation at MU20 and MU21 level, has joined the Three Lions ahead of the forthcoming Nations League fixtures.”
Strong Club Form Rewards Hill
Hill’s elevation to the senior side comes amid an impressive season with Bournemouth, where he has featured 15 times. His contributions have formed part of a strong run for Marco Rose’s side, which has claimed seven consecutive victories across all competitions.
The Bristol-born centre-back arrived at Bournemouth from Fleetwood in 2022 for a reported fee of around £1 million. Following loan spells with Hearts and Blackburn, Hill cemented a consistent place in the Cherries’ back four during the previous campaign.
Hill becomes the second recent defensive addition to the England camp, following Dan Burn’s inclusion a day earlier to replace the withdrawn Marc Guehi.
