Manchester United’s Ashley Young has been recalled to the England squad for the forthcoming friendly games against Germany and Brazil but his Reds team mate Chris Smalling has been omitted by England boss Gareth Southgate.
Young is joined in the squad by uncapped youngsters Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham, and Joe Gomez. Chelsea youngsters Loftus-Cheek and Abraham are on loan at Crystal Palace and Swansea City respectively while Gomez is currently in the first team squad at Liverpool.
Jordan Pickford, the Everton goalkeeper, is the other uncapped player in the squad while Leicester City’s Harry Maguire and Spurs’ Harry Winks got their first caps in the 1-0 win over Lithuania in Vilnius in October.
It’s a sign that Southgate is looking at other options now that England have their World Cup place in Russia confirmed.
Chris Smalling’s place in the England squad has been taken by his Reds team mate Phil Jones with Southgate citing a requirement to play the ball out from the back affecting his squad choices.
Ashley Young back after four year absence
Young’s inclusion comes after a four year gap since his last inclusion, as a substitute in the 0-0 draw with Ukraine during qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.
He is in the squad for his ability to play as a wing back, with Spurs full back Danny Rose also able to play an attacking role from out wide while Fabian Delph, who withdrew from the squad through injury last month, has also been sucessfully playing as an inverted full back for Manchester City while French left back Benjamin Mendy is injured.
All of this hints towards the possibility that Southgate will be deploying a three man defence in Russia next summer – and with many Premier League teams choosing to play this way it’s a clear sign that England may choose to deliver width from wing-backs.
England Squad for the home games against Germany and Brazil.
Goalkeepers
Jack Butland – Stoke City
Joe Hart – West Ham United (on loan from Manchester City)
Jordan Pickford – Everton
Defenders
Ryan Bertrand – Southampton
Gary Cahill – Chelsea
Joe Gomez – Liverpool
Phil Jones – Manchester United
Danny Rose – Tottenham
John Stones – Manchester City
Kieran Trippier – Tottenham
Kyle Walker – Manchester City
Midfielders
Tammy Abraham – Swansea City (on loan from Chelsea)
Dele Alli – Tottenham
Fabian Delph – Manchester City
Eric Dier – Tottenham Hotspur
Jordan Henderson – Liverpool
Jesse Lingard – Manchester United
Ruben Loftus-Cheek – Crystal Palace (on loan from Chelsea)
Harry Maguire – Leicester City
Raheem Sterling – Manchester City
Harry Winks – Tottenham
Ashley Young – Manchester United
Forwards
Harry Kane – Tottenham
Marcus Rashford – Manchester United
Jamie Vardy – Leicester City
England play Germany on Friday, November 10, 2017. They play Brazil on Tuesday, November 14. Both games will be played at Wembley.