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England national football team
European Under-21s Championship | Group Stage
Jun 18, 2015 at 7.45pm UK
 
Portugal national football team

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Saido Berahino out of U21 Euros, replaced by Benik Afobe

Saido Berahino is ruled out of the U21 European Championship with a knee injury and replaced in the squad by Benik Afobe.

England Under-21s forward Saido Berahino has been ruled out of U21 Euro 2015 with a knee injury and replaced in the squad by Wolverhampton Wanderers' Benik Afobe.

West Bromwich Albion striker Berahino suffered the injury in training in the Czech Republic ahead of the Young Lions' opening game of the tournament against Portugal this evening.

The 21-year-old scored 10 goals in 10 games in qualifying for the tournament to lead his side in scoring and help them become one of the top seeds for the tournament draw.

Under-21s boss Gareth Southgate said in a statement: "He's very conscious of it not affecting the team and we're personally disappointed for him because he's been with us from the very first game, scored our first goal and has been a huge part of the reason why we're here."

Berahino is to return home to the UK and be assessed by his club, who said on their website this afternoon that they were "hopeful the injury is not too serious".

It is the second blow Southgate has suffered after it was confirmed that defender John Stones would miss the opening two games of the tournament because of concussion.

Afobe, meanwhile, is called up to the squad after scoring 13 goals in 21 games for Wolves following a January switch from Arsenal.

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Saido Berahino of England runs away to celebrate after scoring his teams second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA U21 Championship Playoff First Leg match between England and Croatia at Molineux on October 10, 2014
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