Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph has been recalled to the England squad for the final two World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Lithuania in October.
Delph’s last of just nine England caps was in November 2015 against Spain and the 27-year-old has endured an injury-hit spell with City since joined from Aston Villa earlier that summer.
The left-footed midfielder has been fielded at left full back in recent games by City boss Pep Guardiola but scored a sumptuous fifth goal with his right foot in last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace before filling in for injured full back Benjamin Mendy in a solid performance at left back against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.
Striker Jamie Vardy has withdrawn from England duty with a hip injury while Southampton’s Fraser Forster got a recall to replace injured Burnley ‘keeper Tom Heaton in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad.
Spurs Dele Alli is included despite the possibility of FIFA action over a gesture he is alleged to have made to City’s Kyle Walker during England’s World Cup qualifying win over Slovakia at Wembley earlier this month.
England squad to face Slovenia and Lithuania includes Fabian Delph
Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Jack Butland (Stoke City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (AFC Bournemouth), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (West Ham United, on loan from Manchester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Michael Keane (Everton), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Jake Livermore (West Bromwich Albion), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), John Stones (Manchester City), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
England Fixtures
England v Slovenia will be played at Wembley on Thursday, October 5.
Lithuania v England will be played in Vilnius on Sunday, October 8.