England squad: Toney, Maguire and Phillips receive call-ups; Alexander-Arnold and White omitted
Maguire #Maguire
Gareth Southgate has included Brentford striker Ivan Toney in his 25-man England squad for this month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine.
Sterling is absent after missing Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Leicester City last weekend in the Premier League.
Toney is still waiting for a Football Association verdict after being charged with 262 breaches of FA gambling rules, with a lengthy suspension possible.
What does the future hold for Gareth Southgate?
Click to expand
UP NEXT
He missed out for the tournament in Qatar – having been in the squad for Nations League games against Germany and Italy in September without playing.
He scored his 17th goal of the season in Brentford’s 2-0 win at Southampton on Wednesday.
Toney’s inclusion means Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, with six goals in his last seven games, misses out.
Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker, being investigated by police after allegedly exposing himself in a bar, is included in the 25-man squad.
Along with Sterling, Ben White, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady and Callum Wilson are absent having all gone to the World Cup.
Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell has earned a recall for the first time since the 10-0 win in San Marino in November 2021.
Harry Maguire retains his place despite starting just two Premier League games for Manchester United this year.
Leicester’s James Maddison, whose World Cup was wrecked by a knee injury, keeps his place along with Kalvin Phillips, despite his lack of action for Manchester City.
England travel to Naples to face Italy on March 23 before hosting Ukraine on March 26 in Group C.
The full 25-man squad.
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Newcastle United) and Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).
Defenders: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Magurie (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United) and Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Maddison (Leicester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City) and Declan Rice (West Ham United).
Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) and Ivan Toney (Brentford).
READ MORE: Journalist doubles down on baffling Liverpool claim, TAA penny drops and bizarre Bellingham question asked