England squad LIVE: Eberechi Eze called up as Gareth Southgate names squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers
England face Malta and North Macedonia in their June fixtures
Eberechi Eze received his first call-up and Lewis Dunk returned four-and-a-half years after his only cap as Gareth Southgate named the England squad for June's qualifiers.
Having kicked off Euro 2024 qualification with wins against Italy and Ukraine, Group C continues with next month's double header against Malta and North Macedonia.
Southgate has named a 25-man squad, with Eric Dier and Raheem Sterling the high-profile absentees and Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eze the only uncapped player in the group.
Brighton captain Dunk returned for the first time since making his debut against the United States in November 2018.
Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings, Sam Johnstone and Trent Alexander-Arnold also returned to the fold.
England squad latest
Who else is set for inclusion?
Brighton centre-back Lewis Dunk is widely tipped to get a call-up having starred for the Seagulls this term, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side closing in on a top-six finish.
Brentford left-back Rico Henry is mentioned by the Times as having impressed Southgate and his staff and his passage to the Three Lions squad could be eased by Ben Chilwell’s absence. Fellow Chelsea players Mason Mount and Reece James are also out, as is Newcastle keeper Nick Pope who has had surgery on his hand.
Ebe Eze is also hoping for a call-up, with the Crystal Palace attacking midfielder in excellent form at the end of this season.
England squad latest
There are unlikely to be huge surprises in Gareth Southgate’s squad today, but there will be eyes on a few players not involved last time out.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben White, Luke Shaw, Raheem Sterling and Callum Wilson were all not involved in March - each have ended the season with an upturn in form though.
Reports on Tuesday suggested Chelsea forward Sterling could miss out again in any case, while one player who won’t be involved who was in the squad last time is Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
The one-cap forward has been suspended from all football activities for eight months by the FA.
Bellingham and Saka are the new untouchables in Southgate’s England 4.0
Across Europe, it is a time of new beginnings and new eras, of new players and new managers. That can be the way after major tournaments: disappointments lead to clearouts, international retirements to opportunities, different regimes to a shift in thinking and personnel. Then there is England. While change has been a guiding theme, whether for France or Germany, Spain or Italy, Gareth Southgate’s side have been Europe’s kings of continuity.
Two games have brought one brief debut, for Ivan Toney. Nine of their World Cup quarter-final starting 11 began the first Euro 2024 qualifier. If the broader theme is one of more of the same, but preferably with a different ending featuring the glint of silverware, the fixture list offered precious little scope for experimentation: not when the first game was Italy in Naples. With six points from six, the tried and trusted have passed their test. Southgate was considering his future until the World Cup. England now have added reasons to be glad he stayed on.
Rich Jolly on Southgate’s fourth iteration of England:
Bellingham and Saka are the new untouchables in Southgate’s England 4.0
There is a temptation to glimpse at an England teamsheet and conclude that very little has changed. Actually, quite a bit has
Newcastle striker Callum Wilson set for England recall
Callum Wilson is in line for an England recall as boss Gareth Southgate waits on Jude Bellingham’s fitness.
Newcastle striker Wilson has scored 11 goals since he was overlooked for the European Championship qualifying wins against Italy and Ukraine in March.
On Wednesday Southgate names his squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers in Malta on June 16 and at home to North Macedonia in Manchester on June 19, with England top of Group C.
Wilson has helped spearhead the Magpies’ top-four charge and they confirmed their return to the Champions League after 20 years with Monday’s 0-0 draw against Leicester.
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