England World Cup squad RECAP as Gareth Southgate confirms team for Qatar
England World Cup squad RECAP: Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips get the nod, while Jadon Sancho misses out as Gareth Southgate admits he has taken ‘a couple of risks’ in selecting players who are not fully fit for Qatar
James Maddison has been named in England’s World Cup squad, with Gareth Southgate this afternoon recognising the Leicester star’s superb club form and ending his international exile when he revealed his 26-man squad.
The 25-year-old midfielder, has six goals and four assists in the Premier League so far this season, has earned his place on the plane alongside Callum Wilson, who has been also rewarded for his fine start to the season, with six goals in a winning Newcastle side.
Wilson will go as backup to star striker Harry Kane, as will Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, who has not played for the national side since the Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy last summer. His return to form seems to have come at the perfect time.
James Maddison has been selected by Gareth Southgate for England’s World Cup squad
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has also been overlooked, but Callum Wilson has made the cut
Kyle Walker (pictured), along with Kalvin Phillips, proved his fitness to ahead of the World Cup
But Brentford hotshot Ivan Toney, who received his first call-up for September’s Nations League fixtures, has been left out, as has Roma’s Tammy Abraham.
Midfielder Kalvin Phillips keeps his place in the squad despite injury concerns – he has played just 14 minutes for new club Manchester City since his move from Leeds.
At the back, Kyle Walker has recovered from injury to take his place in the squad, and Tottenham’s Eric Dier and Arsenal’s Ben White also make the cut. Spurs’ Ryan Sessegnon, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori all miss out.
But the big winner from today’s news is Maddison, has won just one England cap – back in 2019 – and has not featured since being pictured in a casino after withdrawing from the squad with illness. It seems Southgate has decided to give him a second chance and he will now be competing for a role in Qatar.
Relive Sportsmail’s live blog with Will Pickworth as Gareth Southgate named his 26-man England squad for the Qatar World Cup.
