Gareth Southgate hands Declan Rice his first ever call-up to the England national team in the same week where the player is named as the Republic of Ireland’s ‘young player of the year’.
Squad Breakdown
Goalkeepers:
Jack Butland – Stoke City
Tom Heaton – Burnley
Jordan Pickford – Everton
Butland gets the call over Southampton’s Angus Gunn, after the Saints’ keeper is currently being targeted by Scotland who want to secure his services for their national team. Other than that, there’s not too much to write home about as Heaton and Pickford remain within Southgate’s plans.
Defenders:
Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool
Ben Chilwell – Leicester City
Michael Keane – Everton
Harry Maguire – Leicester City
Danny Rose – Tottenham Hotspur
John Stones – Manchester City
James Tarkowski – Burnley
Kieran Trippier – Tottenham Hotspur
Kyle Walker – Manchester City
Luke Shaw – Manchester United
The shock of this news is that Chris Smalling has been denied a return to the England defence after many thought his current form under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was enough to impress the Three Lions boss. Especially since relegation-threatened Burnley defender James Tarkowski has essentially took his spot.
Midfielders:
Fabian Delph – Manchester City
Ross Barkley – Chelsea
Eric Dier – Tottenham Hotspur
Jordan Henderson – Liverpool
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – Chelsea
Declan Rice – West Ham United
Dele Alli – Tottenham Hotspur
The midfield remains the same but the big news of the day is that 20-year-old Declan Rice has obtained his first call-up which almost every football fan will be happy to see. However, the option of James Ward-Prowse could have been assessed but Southgate believes the set-piece specialist needs more consistent playing time within Ralph Hassenhuttl’s squad.
Forwards:
Harry Kane – Tottenham Hotspur
Jadon Sancho – Borussia Dortmund
Raheem Sterling – Manchester Sterling
Callum Wilson – Bournemouth
Marcus Rashford – Manchester United
Again nothing major has been altered here, the constant selection of Sancho is a very bright move for the national team looking towards the future. Watford’s Andre Gray could have been included perhaps after his impressive performances at club level of late.
