Gareth Southgate is hoping Joe Gomez has avoided a serious knee injury after the “upsetting” sight of the Liverpool defender collapsing in pain during England training.

The 23-year-old had been due to play a key role in this month’s triple-header, only to pull up in alarming fashion on the eve of Thursday’s friendly with the Republic of Ireland.

The Football Association confirmed Gomez has “withdrawn from the England squad having sustained a knee injury in training”, with the defender returning to his club “to await further diagnosis”.

“I can’t tell you how serious it is because he’s yet to have scans,” Three Lions boss Southgate said.

Southgate will try to balance his needs with those of his players against Ireland, when Reece James – suspended for the Nations League matches against Belgium and Iceland – is set to start in front of Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope.

Former Irish youth internationals Michael Keane and Jack Grealish could be involved at Wembley, as could Declan Rice against the country he represented at senior level on three occasions.

But arguably the biggest moment would be a debut for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham, with the 17-year-old in line to become the Three Lions’ third-youngest player on Thursday.

“People will have a view of what a midfield player is but there are very specific roles within midfield positions,” Southgate said of the Birmingham academy graduate, who was promoted from the Under-21s due to James Ward-Prowse’s injury.

“But the bigger picture here is a great opportunity to bring another young player with us that is going to benefit England for the long-term. Whether he stays with us for the full week, we’ll decide after the game.”