World Cup 2018: Fabian Delph leaves England camp and returns home to attend birth of his third child
The midfielder has been given permission to leave the Three Lions' World Cup camp
Fabian Delph has returned to England to attend the birth of his third child.
The Manchester City midfielder has been given permission by manager Gareth Southgate to temporarily leave the Three Lions' World Cup camp to be with his wife.
Delph flew out of Russia after starting Thursday's 1-0 defeat to Belgium, which saw England finish as Group G runners-up.
His wife, Natalie, is due to give birth on Saturday, three days before England face Colombia in the last 16.
Southgate had been fully aware - and supportive - of Delph's desire to be at the birth of his child.
Speaking back in May, Delph said: "Gareth Southgate has been fantastic. There's nothing more important than family to me - family always comes first and always will."
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Should Delph return ahead of the Colombia match, it is highly unlikely he will start.
Southgate made eight changes to his XI for the Belgium game, with England's last 16 place already assured ahead of the meeting.
Delph was among those included, but Southgate is expected to revert to the team which faced Tunisia in England's opening match of the tournament.
Dele Alli, who started the 2-1 win over Tunisia, has missed the past two matches with a thigh injury but is back in training and likely to regain his place.