Southampton's Bertrand withdraws from England squad due to back issue

Ryan Bertrand was forced to abandon England's camp for upcoming friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy because of a back issue, the Three Lions announced Tuesday.

Bertrand's withdrawal was described as a "precautionary measure." He will undergo further evaluation once he returns to Southampton.

A replacement for the 28-year-old wasn't immediately named.

Manchester United's Ashley Young and Tottenham's Danny Rose are the only other potential left-backs in Gareth Southgate's squad. Joe Gomez can also deputise if needed on the left flank.

Losing Bertrand for any amount of time would prove catastrophic for Southampton, which is currently in the throes of a relegation battle. He's been one of the Saints' most consistent performers in an otherwise disappointing campaign, and helped his club reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup last weekend on manager Mark Hughes' debut.