UEFA Nations League

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Nations League | League A

Sep 23, 2022 at 7.45pm UK

Italy
1 - 0
England

Raspadori (68')
Bonucci (48'), Di Lorenzo (80')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Grealish (90+4')

Brentford's Ivan Toney left out of England squad for Italy clash

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter

Published: September 23 2022 | 14:17

Last updated: September 23 2022 | 18:18

Ivan Toney left out of England squad for Italy clash

Ivan Toney is left out of the England squad for Friday's Nations League clash with Italy alongside Ben Chilwell, Marc Guehi, Jordan Henderson and the banned John Stones.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been left out of the England matchday squad for Friday's UEFA Nations League clash with Italy at San Siro.

The 26-year-old was called up to the Three Lions for the first time earlier this month as England aim to avoid relegation from League A Group 3 in the Nations League.

Toney's inclusion in the England squad came after the striker hit 12 Premier League goals in the 2021-22 season, and he already has five strikes and two assists to his name from seven outings in the top flight this term.

"With Ivan Toney, we have been tracking him for a long time. I had a good chat with Thomas Frank about him last season," Southgate said on the striker's selection.

"His form and his qualities - not only his goalscoring but his technical ability, build-up play and aerial prowess - gives us a different threat to some of the other players we could pick."

Brentford's Ivan Toney celebrates scoring their second goal on September 3, 2022 © Reuters

However, Toney will be forced to wait a little while longer for his Three Lions debut after being left out of Southgate's 23-man squad for the trip to San Siro.

Harry Kane is expected to lead the line for England as he continues his bid to break Wayne Rooney's all-time scoring record - the Tottenham Hotspur man currently has 50 strikes compared to Rooney's 53.

As well as Toney, there is no space in the squad for Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson, who was called up to replace the injured Kalvin Phillips but is only just back from a hamstring problem himself.

Southgate is supposedly optimistic that Henderson will be able to play some part against Germany on Monday, and the England boss has also left Ben Chilwell and Marc Guehi out of his squad for Friday's game.

Centre-back John Stones, meanwhile, will serve a suspension after being sent off in the 4-0 defeat to Hungary in June, which should allow Harry Maguire the chance to impress in the back three.

Harry Maguire in action for Manchester United on September 8, 2022 © Reuters

The 29-year-old has been dropped from Manchester United's first XI by Erik ten Hag and has not started any of their four Premier League wins this term, with Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane forming a strong partnership.

Southgate told reporters in Thursday's press conference that he still retained faith in Maguire, though, saying: "Clearly, it's not an ideal situation. You want your best players playing regularly so that they're physically in a good place and mentally in a good place.

"But he is an important player for us. I think it's important to back our best players. He understands that he's at a big club, big transfer fee and captain of the club so I think that's why the spotlight has been on him more.

"He's focused on training well every day and getting himself back in the team. The squad we've picked, there are a fair number of players you could argue we could have left out, but I think we wanted to keep that group together and to keep them involved."

Jude Bellingham is also expected to partner Declan Rice in the midfield in the absence of Henderson and Phillips, as England aim to improve on their paltry two-point tally in Group 3.

The Three Lions sit bottom of the group after failing to win any of their first four games and will be relegated to League B if they lose to the European champions on Friday.