Marc Guehi has been called up to the England senior squad for the first time but Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have been omitted from Gareth Southgate’s latest squad.
Marc Guehi has been called up to the England senior squad for the first time but Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have been omitted from Gareth Southgate’s latest squad.
There was also a recall for Guehi’s fellow Crystal Palace teammate Connor Gallagher alongside Arsenal’s Ben White and Burnley’s Nick Pope.
Tammy Abraham is the preferred choice as backup to England captain Harry Kane as he continues to impress for Jose Mourinho’s Roma with no room for Jarrod Bowen despite impressing for West Ham.
Manchester City defender Kyle Walker is also absent for the upcoming games at Wembley against Switzerland and Ivory Coast which will take place on March 26 and 29 respectively.
Whilst there will be Nations League games to play in June and September, the upcoming friendlies will be one of Southgate's last opportunities to experiment with his squad ahead of the World Cup in Qatar this winter.
The promotion of Guehi from the under 21’s is a sign that the England boss will continue to bed in young players and pick a squad based on form rather than reputation.
England have not lost a game in 90 minutes for 28 games but did lose on penalties to Italy in the Euro 2020 final last July and will be considered one of the favourites for the World Cup with hopes of finally lifting their first senior trophy since 1966.
England squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Nick Pope (Burnley)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Coady (Wolves), Marc Guehi (Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Man United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Man United), John Stones (Man City), Ben White (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Connor Gallagher (Palace), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)
Forwards: Tammy Abraham (As Roma), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Emile Smith-Rowe (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Man City).