Gareth Southgate has recalled Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, John Stones and Callum Hudson-Odoi for the forthcoming Euro (qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo.)
The England manager has also included Mason Mount, despite concerns over an ankle injury he sustained in Chelsea’s Champions League tie against Ajax, which means that Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish misses out.
There is relief for James Maddison who has been selected by Southgate despite the manager being concerned at the Leicester City midfielder being photographed at a casino the day after he withdrew from the last England squad through illness.
As expected Stones is selected having returned to the Manchester City team of late with Michael Keane missing out. The central defender played poorly in England’s 2-1 defeat away to the Czech Republic and has also recently lost his place at Everton.
Chelsea’s Fikayo Tomori and Villa’s Tyrone Mings keen their places as does Ross Barkley which will come as a relief to the midfielder who has not started any of Chelsea’s last five matches.
Despite an apparent return to form there is no place for Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli in the 27 – man squad with Southgate also resisting the temptation to include Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
England can seal qualification with at least a draw against Montenegro at Wembley which will also be their 1, 000thInternational.
‘I wouldn’t hesitate to call him into the squad ‘
Here’s Southgate on Grealish’s absence:
“He’s a very good player – I’ve watched him closely this season. of that is he’s up against (Raheem) Sterling, (Marcus) Rashford, (Callum) Hudson-Odoi and (Jadon) Sancho in those wide areas.
“The competition in that area is high level – they’re all good players, Jack’s a very good player – I worked with him in the under – 21 s so I know all about him.
“He’s very close, he just has to keep playing the way he is, and if we had issues over the weekend, I wouldn’t hesitate to call him into the squad. “
What about Kyle Walker?
Gareth Southgate insists Kyle Walker’s international career is not over despite omitting him for a third-successive squad.
Southgate has unveiled his 27 – man squad with Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold the preferred options at right-back.
Asked whether Manchester City full-back Walker’s England career was over after amassing 48 caps, Southgate replied: “Absolutely not.
“We’ve been very pleased with the form of Kieran and Trent. (Trent’s) form for Liverpool has been really exceptional. It’s an area of the pitch where we’ve got high competition for places. “
Gareth Southgate insists Kyle Walker’s international career is not over despite omitting him for a third-successive squad.
Southgate has unveiled his 27 – man squad with Kieran Trippier and Trent Alexander-Arnold the preferred options at right-back.
Asked whether Manchester City full-back Walker’s England career was over after amassing 48 caps, Southgate replied: “Absolutely not.
“We’ve been very pleased with the form of Kieran and Trent. (Trent’s) form for Liverpool has been really exceptional. It’s an area of the pitch where we’ve got high competition for places. “
Maddison gets lucky
One of the big talking points is James Maddison, who has been handed another England chance despite his controversial casino visit during the last international break.
Maddison pulled out of the squad to face the Czech Republic and Bulgaria last month because of illness . But the uncapped 22 – year-old was pictured in a casino during the 2-1 defeat in Prague.
1, 000 and counting …
As mentioned earlier, the Montenegro clash will be England’s 1, 000 th international game.
To celebrate the occasion, the current squad will take to the pitch on Thursday, November 14, wearing individual legacy numbers on their shirts.
Here’s Gareth Southgate visiting the National Football Museum in Manchester today and holding up his shirt .. .
Here’s a close-up of the shirt the players will be wearing against Montenegro. The one below is Southgate’s …
Decision time: Who will Southgate choose?
Gareth Southgate could hand Dele Alli or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a recall with England on the brink of qualification for Euro 2020.
Manager Southgate names his squad today for the games at home to Montenegro on November 14 and away to Kosovo three days later, with the Three Lions needing one more point to book their place at next summer’s tournament.
But Mason Mount is now a doubt after suffering an ankle injury in Chelsea’s 4-4 Champions League draw with Ajax on Tuesday. The midfielder, who has four caps since making his debut in September, was due to have a scan on Wednesday.
If Mount misses out Southgate could hand an international lifeline to Tottenham’s Alli. The midfielder was dropped from the last squad having missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury before struggling for form, but he scored in Spurs’ 1-1 draw at Everton on Sunday.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who suffered a serious knee injury last season, has scored four goals in his last four games for Liverpool, including Tuesday’s winner to beat Genk 2-1 in the Champions League.
Ross Barkley could be sweating on his place with the pair available after he missed Chelsea’s last four games.
Aston Villa’sJack Grealish has been watched by Southgatebut the midfielder is still likely to be down the pecking order.
Grealish has impressed in the last two months, and is up for the Premier League’s October player of the month award, but it still may not be enough to force Southgate’s hand.
The manager has multiple options in Grealish’s position, although team-mate Tyrone Mings is expected to be included again.
Fellow defender Michael Keane has been dropped by Everton and could lose his place to fit-again John Stones.
Defender Keane was an unused substitute for the draw with Tottenham.
It comes after he was singled out for criticism following England’s 2-1 defeat in the Czech Republic last month.
Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi remains an option for Southgate but there is little need for huge change following the last Three Lions camp, meaning out-of-form Jesse Lingard is likely to miss out again.
Southgate, though, must decide whether to recall Manchester City’s Kyle Walker after omitting him last month or include fit-again Manchester United right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The Montenegro clash will be England’s 1, 000 th international game and will be their first fixture since beating Bulgaria 6-0 in Sofia last month – a game that was marred by racist behavior from the home fans.
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