MX23RW : Wednesday, January 22 01:26:43| >> :60:805:805:

Ivan Toney called up to England squad, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho left out

Ivan Toney called up to England squad, Rashford, Sancho left out
© Reuters
Brentford striker Ivan Toney is called up to the England squad for September's Nations League matches, but Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho miss out.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been called up to the England squad for the first time for September's Nations League matches, but Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho miss out.

Gareth Southgate's side will do battle with Italy and Germany in League A Group 3 on September 23 and 26 respectively as the Three Lions finalise their preparations for the 2022 World Cup.

Toney has opened the new Premier League season in fine form for the Bees, scoring five goals and setting up two more in six outings, and the 26-year-old has earned his maiden call-up.

However, Manchester United duo Rashford and Sancho have both failed to make the cut, with the former not risked for September's matches due to a muscular problem.

Justifying his decision to include Toney for September's clashes, Southgate told englandfootball.com: "With Ivan Toney, we have been tracking him for a long time. I had a good chat with Thomas Frank about him last season.

Manchester United's Jadon Sancho celebrates scoring their first goal on February 12, 2022© Reuters

"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."

Southgate also touched upon the omission of Rashford, who has amassed three goals and two assists from six Premier League outings so far this term, and the door is still open for the 24-year-old to play his way into the World Cup squad.

"There were certain players we wanted to keep involved this time, but that said it doesn't mean that this is the end for some of the others who aren't involved," Southgate added.

"Marcus Rashford, for example, has shown some encouraging signs recently. He is a player we know well so if he can perform at a high level in the next few weeks, he of course will be under consideration."

Other notable inclusions in the England squad include Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier, who has performed admirably for Antonio Conte's side this term, and Harry Maguire, who has been dropped by Man United head coach Erik ten Hag.

Full-backs Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw are also involved despite their struggles for game time at present, but there is no place in the team for Arsenal's Ben White, who has largely featured as a right-back this term.

Eric Dier in action for Tottenham Hotspur on September 13, 2022© Reuters

"Clearly, we have a number of players including Ben Chilwell, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips who are not playing a lot of minutes with their club," Southgate added.

"It is not ideal, but we feel they have been, and can be, important players for us. It is not a perfect situation but there is still a lot of football to be played before Qatar."

With Jordan Pickford out injured, Nottingham Forest loanee Dean Henderson makes the cut alongside Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope, while Kyle Walker is also included despite a recent injury.

Jude Bellingham, Phillips, Mason Mount, Declan Rice and James Ward-Prowse represent the only five midfield options in Southgate's squad, with the Three Lions coach electing not to call upon Harvey Elliott, while Jordan Henderson misses out through injury.

Manchester City's Jack Grealish and West Ham United's Jarrod Bowen are both preferred to Sancho in attack, and Southgate has once again overlooked James Maddison for selection.

ENGLAND SQUAD IN FULL:

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Nottingham Forest, loan from Manchester United), Nick Pope (Newcastle United), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Everton, loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)

Forwards: Tammy Abraham (AS Roma), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Ivan Toney (Brentford)

ID:494716:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect10340:
Written by
Ben Knapton

Click here for more stories about Marcus Rashford

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Brentford's Ivan Toney celebrates scoring their second goal on September 3, 2022
Read Next:
Toney, Dier to be named in England squad?
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool21155150203050
2Arsenal22128243212244
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest22135433221144
4Chelsea22117444271740
5Manchester CityMan City22115644291538
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle22115638261238
7Bournemouth22107536261037
8Aston Villa2210663334-136
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2281043530534
10Fulham228953430433
11Brentford2284104039128
12Crystal Palace226972528-327
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2275102732-526
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham2275102743-1626
15Tottenham HotspurSpurs22731245351024
16Everton214891828-1020
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2244143251-1916
18Ipswich TownIpswich2237122043-2316
19Leicester CityLeicester2235142348-2514
20Southampton2213181550-356


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!