Gareth Southgate urges Premier League to reconsider five substitutions as injuries mount

Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling ruled out of England's Nations League match against Iceland

England manager Gareth Southgate talks to his players during the Nations League defeat in Belgium. AP

Harry Kane and Jason Denayer of Belgium in action. EPA

Jack Grealish was praised by manager Gareth Southgate. Getty

Belgium's Youri Tielemans celebrates after scoring the first goal. PA

Belgium's Youri Tielemans celebrates. PA

Dries Mertens of Belgium scores his team's second goal. EPA

Mertens, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring. AP

England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford fails to stop a free kick from Belgium's Dries Mertens. PA

Mertens celebrates. PA

England manager Gareth Southgate has urged the Premier League to reconsider its position on limiting clubs to only three substitutions per match as injuries mount amid a congested schedule.

Football's rule-making body, the International Football Association Board, gave leagues the option of continuing to use five substitutes per match in the 2020/21 campaign after introducing the system earlier this year, with games coming thick and fast after the Covid-19 pandemic reduced the length of the season.

While other top European leagues have taken up that option, Premier League clubs voted against it, though Southgate's call echoed complaints from a chorus of club managers asking for a change following injuries to England internationals Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell.

Liverpool captain Henderson suffered a knock during the loss away to Belgium, while Manchester City forward Sterling has withdrawn because of a calf problem.

"We were able to make five changes against Belgium, we made four in the end and clubs don't have that option," Southgate told reporters.

"What will it take for that to change? There were a couple of less serious injuries against Belgium but what do we do? Wait until we get a load of really nasty ones?"

Southgate said England had been forced to give players extra days' recovery and also eased their training schedules as the country's hopes of qualifying for the Nations League finals were dashed after Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Belgium.

"I have to be fair to the club managers. They are their players first and they have the right to play them as they see fit," he added.

"Injuries are a worry in the longer term because with no winter break, something has to give."

Liverpool's Juergen Klopp and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola have been critical of the Premier League this season for not looking after the players following the switch back to a maximum of three substitutes.

England host Iceland on Wednesday in their final Nations League group stage game.