Bridges out of U21 squad

Injury has forced Bridges to pull out of the squad

Leeds United striker Michael Bridges has pulled out of England's Under-21 squad for the European Championships due to injury.

Bridges, who has been suffering from groin and abdominal problems, was released from the party after being examined by the squad's medical staff.

He has been replaced by Blackburn striker Matt Jansen.

Jansen, who has received his first call-up for more than a year, will travel with the 20-man squad when they leave on Thursday for the championships in Slovakia.

Bridges had hit form again late in the season, scoring four goals in his last four games to take his tally to 21.

Mentally tiring

And when he was originally called up he said: "I only recently said to somebody, the more games the merrier because you just want to keep playing and playing.

"It's just more mentally tiring than physically draining."

With Aston Villa defender Gareth Barry also being called up from the Under-21 squad to the senior party, 19-year-old Tottenham defender Tony Gardner has replaced him.

Gardner was signed from Port Vale in January and has yet to make his Spurs debut despite having been an unused substitute in first-team games on a couple of occasions this season.