Katarina Johnson-Thompson says she is “gutted” to have to withdraw from the England team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow due to an unspecified injury.The 33-year-old double defending champion is one of nine members of the England athletics squad to pull out on Thursday, the same day as opening ceremony in the Scottish city.Four more Olympic medallists – Dina Asher-Smith, Daryll Neita, Matthew Hudson-Smith and Amber Anning – are also out along with Zac Sneddon, Anna Purchase, Elliot Giles and Jona Efoloko.Katarina Johnson-Thompson had been due to defend her heptathlon title (PA)Like Keely Hodgkinson, the Olympic 800 metres champion who did not pursue selection, Johnson-Thompson indicated she will switch her focus to the European Championships in Birmingham next month.Johnson-Thompson said on social media: “I’m gutted to have to pull out of this year’s Commonwealth Games. I was so looking forward to competing on home soil and having the chance to defend my Commonwealth title!“Although the injury I picked up earlier this season has improved, I haven’t been able to get back to the level I need to compete at my best.“After discussing it with my team, we’ve made the difficult decision to focus on giving myself the best chance of being ready for the European Championships, so working very hard to be there later this season.Dina Asher-Smith is also a late withdrawal from the Games (PA)“Missing a championship is never easy, but I know it’s the right decision. I can’t wait to be back competing again soon.”Johnson-Thompson had been expected to target a hat-trick of Commonwealth Games titles having previously won gold in both Gold Coast and Birmingham.International stars who have previously pulled out of the Games include St Lucia’s reigning Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred, multiple Olympic swimming medallists Kaylee McKeown and Summer McIntosh of Australia and Canada respectively, and Hodgkinson’s 800m rival, Mary Moraa of Kenya.Away from the athletics track, triple Olympic gymnastics champion Max Whitlock was forced to call time on his comeback bid earlier this month due to injury.PA