England boss Gareth Southgate has confessed he does not expect either Luke Shaw or Mason Mount to join up with the squad in time for Monday's trip to San Marino.
Shaw has been dealing with a head injury that he suffered in the Manchester derby before the international break last weekend, while Mount underwent dental surgery on an infected wisdom tooth earlier in the week.
Both obviously missed Friday's 5-0 thumping of Albania, and after the game, Southgate admitted that the pair are unlikely to make it back in time for the next fixture.
"Luke and Mason are very unlikely to joins us," he said (via the Evening Standard). "It looks like we will run out of time with those two."
Fortunately for Southgate, Monday's game doesn't look like being a tough one. San Marino are the most famous minnows around and have shipped 36 goals in their nine qualifying games so far - scoring just once.
Nevertheless, it's still an important game for England, who need a point to guarantee an automatic spot at the 2022 World Cup and not have to go through a playoff route.
Southgate is keen to rotate his squad for the game but is dealing with limited numbers. Mount and Shaw remain absent, while Marcus Rashford, James Ward-Prowse and Declan Rice have all withdrawn through illness.
Jack Grealish was also unwell in the build-up to the Albania game but did manage some minutes as a second-half substitute. He may end up starting against San Marino, while Arsenal's Bukayo Saka could get in at left wing-back as Shaw's absence leaves Ben Chilwell as the only natural option.