Gareth Southgate has dropped six players from the England squad ahead of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary on 9 and 12 October respectively.
Southgate’s decision to trim his squad means that several big names players like Harry Maguire, Jude Bellingham and Patrick Bamford miss out on selection, as England look to seal qualification for 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Burnley’s Nick Pope has been snubbed in the goalkeeper selection as Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale gets the nod alongside Sam Johnstone and Jordan Pickford, although Pickford has recently sat out two matches for Everton with a shoulder injury.
In defence, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Maguire have both been snubbed as Fikayo Tomori receives a recall after impressing in Serie A for AC Milan, which marks the 23 year-old’s first call-up since November 2019.
Phil Foden returns in midfield after injury kept him out of September’s international fixtures as Bellingham drops out of the squad.
Up front, Ollie Watkins is recalled after being snubbed from England’s Euro 2020 squad before injury kept him ruled out of September’s matches, as he replaces Leeds’ Patrick Bamford who has been dropped after failing to impress last month.
Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also absent with toe and quad injuries and hasn’t been replaced in the squad.
England will visit Andorra on Saturday 9 October (7:45pm BST) before hosting Hungary at Wembley Stadium, London, on Tuesday 12 October (7:45pm BST), with victories in both matches potentially proving enough to wrap up qualification if results elsewhere go their way.
Here is the 23-man squad to face Andorra and Hungary next month.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defence: Conor Coady (Wolves), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Reece James (Chelsea), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfield: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham),
Forward: Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
