Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mason Greenwood will join the English squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.
Both players missed Euro 2020 – which saw England reach the final before being beaten by Italy on penalties – after suffering pre-tournament injuries.
But the couple got off to a good start to the season after getting back into fitness. Greenwood scored in both Manchester United Premier League games and Alexander-Arnold helped Liverpool score consecutive goals.
Gareth Southgate will nominate his squad for the games against Hungary, Andorra and Poland on Thursday.
Despite joining the extended Southgate squad prior to Euro 2020 before being eliminated due to injury, Greenwood has not played for his country since September 2020 when he was sent home after a game in Iceland after violating coronavirus protocols became.
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Mason Greenwood celebrates his goal against Leeds this month
Alexander-Arnold played regularly for England – four times last season for his country – but is likely to face stiff competition as right-backs from Kyle Walker, Reece James and Kieran Trippier.
Harry Kane, who confirmed on Wednesday that he will stay at Tottenham this summer despite informing the club that he would like to leave during the current transfer window, will also be added to the squad.
Spurs have denied Manchester City’s attempts to sign Kane, but it is believed that Southgate planned to add their captain to their squad, even if he was in negotiating a transfer by the Tuesday deadline.
Arrangements have been made to allow Kane to complete medical treatment or to travel off-site to finalize a potential deal if it comes after the English side clash after the Premier League games this weekend.
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Gareth Southgate led England to their first European Championship final this summer
Kane returned to Tottenham for pre-season later than planned – despite refusing to train – and was further delayed after being quarantined after arriving from Barbados via Florida.
He missed Spurs ‘first two games of the season but proved his fitness by breaking off the bench in the second half of Wolves’ 1-0 win on Sunday – his first move since the 2020 Euro Final.
Southgate plan to pick their strongest squad for qualifying, with Hungary and Poland likely to be England’s toughest opponents in Group I.
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Jamie Redknapp says Tottenham’s decision to keep Harry Kane this summer should be a trigger for the club to “show ambition” by joining the squad and fighting for trophies
The first of the three games will take place in Budapest on September 2, before Andorra travels to Wembley three days later. England will end their game against Poland in Warsaw on September 8th.
Most of the squad will be similar to who led England to the Euro 2020 final at Wembley 45 days ago, although Nick Pope will return after an injury also banned him from the competition.
However, Southgate will limit itself to calling only 23 players, instead of the 26 he had admitted to the European Championship. Each team can make five substitutions per game during qualification.
No away fans in Hungary or Poland
Regardless of a positive change in travel status, there will be a kettle of partisan support in Budapest and Warsaw as no away fans will be admitted.
FIFA and UEFA made the decision earlier this month that international matches in Europe in September should not host guest fans because of a “peak” in Covid-19 cases.
According to the England Supporters Travel Club, 7,000 people were interested in tickets for the game in Hungary. Another 6,000 registered to apply for a ticket to the Poland game, which could entice fans to travel regardless of their inability to enter the stadium.
Who else could be called? Ings? Alli?
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Dele Alli has made an impressive start to the season
Marcus Rashford, who was among those who missed on penalties in the last penalty shootout, will not be in the squad after undergoing surgery on a longstanding shoulder problem earlier this month.
Phil Foden is another Euro 2020 squad member to be sidelined as the playmaker recovers from a foot injury while goalkeeper Dean Henderson rebuilds his fitness after being infected with Covid-19 last month.
Danny Ings started his Aston Villa career scoring – including the spectacular headbutt in defeating Newcastle.
And what about Dele Alli? Over two years after his last international appearance, his form at the start of the season in a deeper midfield role has shown promise for Tottenham.
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See Danny Ings’ wonderful overhead kick against Newcastle from every angle!
Question marks over White and Chillwell
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Ben White is missing for the new club Arsenal due to Covid-19
Dean Henderson’s continued absence means Sam Johnstone and Aaron Ramsdale are likely to be Jordan Pickford’s goalkeepers.
However, there will be question marks with Ben White and Ben Chilwell.
White is currently recovering from Covid-19 after missing Arsenal’s loss to Chelsea and is a significant doubt for Manchester City clash this weekend.
Ben Chilwell did not play a minute for England at Euro 2020 – and was paused after he was considered a close contact after Billy Gilmour’s positive Covid-19 test during the tournament.
Chilwell has not yet played for Chelsea this season – Thomas Tuchel chose Marcos Alonso.
Will England face Covid-19 / travel issues?
England’s three World Cup qualifiers in September include trips to Hungary and Poland, with a home game against Andorra in between.
There are currently no concerns about the release of players to Gareth Southgate’s squad as both Hungary and Poland are on the UK’s yellow list.
The government’s next travel review is imminent – and reports suggest that both nations could move onto the green list, considered one of the safest trips to travel.
What do the statistics say?
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Statistics suggest this would be England’s most explosive XI based on the opening games of the 2021/22 season in Europe’s top five leagues
As Southgate prepares to name its squad, this season we’ve picked an England team from the stats-based Sky Sports Power Rankings and there are some surprising selections – albeit from a limited number of games played.
Saint-Etienne’s aptly named “keeper Etienne Green” provided the first shock in goal by ousting current England number 1 Jordan Pickford and Nick Pope after recently declaring his desire to play for his home country.
The former Premier League starlets Reece Oxford and Fikayo Timori will be given starting positions as central defenders – after starting the season for AC Milan and FC Augsburg in outstanding style.
Alexander-Arnold missed Euro 2020 due to injury but the 22-year-old has started the season on form to justify the inclusion while West Ham’s Aaron Cresswell occupies the left flank after changing his form from last season to the new one Season has taken over.
A more well-known trio will be slotted into a three-man midfield, with Declan Rice in the middle, flanked by Mason Mount and Jack Grealish – though Southgate likely won’t play Manchester City’s £ 100m recruits in that deeper role .
At the top, Man of the Moment Mikhail Antonio becomes the third West Ham player to make it with three goals in two games after his explosive start. Antonio has chosen to represent Jamaica but has not yet made his international debut for her. As such, he currently remains eligible to be selected by England.
Greenwood and Montpellier and former Arsenal striker Stephy Mavididi make their debut on the left.
World Cup 2022 European Championship qualification on Sky Sports
Watch the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and international friendlies live on Sky Sports; Also, follow our dedicated live blogs and watch in-game clips and free game highlights on Sky Sports digital platforms.
Follow England’s European Championship qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup with our dedicated live blogs. Check out free game highlights on Sky Sports digital platforms 15 minutes after these games have finished.
It continues with Euro 2020 … What lessons have been learned?
Tomorrow’s squad announcement is the first time we’ve heard from the English coach since the morning after the loss to Italy at Wembley.
As Southgate reiterated his desire to take the team to Qatar in 2022, he talked about the emotional toll the tournament had taken on him and his players – and the need for rest, relaxation and reflection.
Has he seen the final back? If so, what lessons did he take?
There is no doubt that such a hardworking manager at Southgate, assisted by Steve Holland and a number of seasoned coaches and video staff, will try to learn from that disappointing July night.
But is the message to be forgotten now and to move on? To ensure that this generation of gamers isn’t afraid of the biggest “what if?”
Southgate steadfastly supported Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka following their missed penalties.
The applause for Saka from Brentford, Tottenham and Chelsea fans will have encouraged him earlier this season – but Sancho and Rashford have been targeted by some supporters.
Keep track of the summer transfer window with Sky Sports
You can keep up with the latest transfer news and rumors on our dedicated Transfer Center blog on Sky Sports digital platforms and keep up to date with all developments on Sky Sports News.
