Kai Havertz will not be present for Germany’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Belgium after returning to Stamford Bridge with illness

Chelsea star Kai Havertz has been recalled from international duty with Germany through illness. The 23-year-old has joined a lengthy list of Blues players to withdraw from playing for the national team after Reece James was the latest to pull out.

Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount were also likely shoe-ins for a spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad, but injuries saw them miss out. Wesley Fofana was also unable to mark his first senior call-up to the France squad with an appearance after withdrawing from Didier Deschamps’ squad with a minor injury picked up in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Everton.

The issues plaguing Mount and Sterling were already known to Chelsea boss Graham Potter, however James is a fresh blow. The right-back came on in the final 10 minutes against Italy for England on Thursday, but it was confirmed on Saturday afternoon he was set to return to Cobham.

Havertz is now also a minor concern for Chelsea’s Premier League return against Aston Villa on April 1. Thankfully for Potter though it is not a muscular issue but instead an illness, therefore Havertz will have plenty of time to recover for the clash at Stamford Bridge with the hope of scoring in his fourth consecutive game.

Penalties against Borussia Dortmund and Everton sandwiched a delightful chipped goal in the win over Leicester, with Havertz now on nine goals for the season.