England players pressured by clubs over national duty, says Southgate

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - International Friendly - England v Republic of Ireland - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - November 12, 2020 England manager Gareth Southgate after the match Pool via REUTERS/Nick Potts

(Reuters) - England boss Gareth Southgate has said his players are being pressured by their clubs to regulate their playing time with the national team to avoid the risk of injuries amid a tight schedule.

With the COVID-19 pandemic tightening the season's match schedule, player fatigue has become a major issue, exacerbated by the international break, with England playing three times in a seven days.