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Football

29th Jun 2018

Fabian Delph has flown back to England to attend the birth of his child

He will be rejoining the squad soon

Reuben Pinder

Some things are more important than football

Fabian Delph is flying home to England from Russia as his wife is due to give birth to their third child.

The player was aware of this situation before the tournament started. England manager Gareth Southgate granted the Man City midfielder permission to fly home temporarily.

Discussing his wife having to cope without him while 8 months pregnant, Delph said in May: “She’s tough, she’s a Yorkshire lass so she’ll deal with it.”

The 28-year-old added: “Gareth Southgate has been fantastic. There’s nothing more important than family to me – family always comes first and always will.”

Delph didn’t get on the pitch against Tunisia but came off the bench in England’s second game, against Panama, and started the final group match against Belgium.