Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire were named to the England squad, but Raheem Sterling was left out.
Gareth Southgate has named his latest England squad for matches against Ukraine and Scotland.
Despite their uncertain futures with the Three Lions, Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire have been named to the new England team. Despite a comeback to form for Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, he is not re-selected by Gareth Southgate after missing out in June. Eddie Nketiah, a prolific striker for England’s U21s, makes the squad.
The soap opera of England’s team remains mostly unchanged after a record-breaking summer transfer window. That means Sterling is still out as Nketiah gets a surprise call-up among the attackers. Sterling is “not particularly happy” about being left out, Southgate confessed on Thursday.
It has been a summer in which millions of pounds have been spent to relocate England internationals all over the world, or, in the instance of Harry Maguire, there were insufficient funds to relocate him. For the time being.
Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire were named to the England squad, but Raheem Sterling was left out.
But, just as Germany-based Harry Kane and the newest Real Madrid Galactico Jude Bellingham were expected to be in Southgate’s group, Saudi exile Henderson and Manchester United outcast Maguire were among the 26 players selected by England’s manager at St George’s Park.
As, of course, was Kalvin Phillips. With a perfect record in qualification, the Three Lions should be guaranteed a place in Germany in next month’s double-header against Ukraine in Poland and Scotland in Glasgow.
And, despite the prospect of a season with little in the way of really competitive football, there will be more than a few old-timers sticking on for the trip. Maguire’s failure to secure a deal with West Ham leaves him fighting for a place on the bench as he falls down Erik ten Hag’s pecking order at left centre-back.
At the same time, Henderson’s choice to forego the captaincy of Liverpool for the yet-to-be-proven competitiveness of the Saudi League has not cost him a place in Southgate’s plans. Perhaps he is anticipating the reconnaissance flight miles.
But there will be plenty of players closer to home seeking to make an impression, not least Tyrone Mings and John Stones. Levi Colwill has been impressive on the left side of Chelsea’s defence in pre-season and beyond, earning him another call-up after participating in training. Fikayo Tomori’s on-again, off-again England career appears to be on track for the time being.
Eberechi Eze joins Nketiah as young players vying for a spot in an increasingly crowded forward line with more established names farther forward. Surprisingly, Trent Alexander-Arnold is now officially categorized as a midfielder rather than a defender, with Sam Johnstone taking over as the third keeper behind Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale.
