Patrick Bamford handed first England call-up as Gareth Southgate brings Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jesse Lingard back into fold - Sky Sports 26/8/21
England boss Gareth Southgate omits Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell from 25-man squad to face Hungary, Andorra and Poland; Man Utd forward Mason Greenwood also misses out after impressive start to Premier League season
By Zinny Boswell
Patrick Bamford, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jesse Lingard
have been called up by England manager Gareth Southgate for next month's World
Cup Qualifiers.
The trio all missed Euro 2020 as England reached the final
of the competition, losing to Italy on penalties at Wembley in July, but will
be available for the upcoming games against Hungary, Andorra and Poland.
It is the first time Leeds striker Bamford has been called
up to the England squad and Southgate says he felt it was the right time for
the 27-year-old to be given an opportunity in the senior side after impressing
for his club.
"There was an opportunity for us in the forward
area," he said. "We were very pleased with what Ollie Watkins did at
the end of last season.
"Now is an opportunity for Patrick as a number nine as
well. His progress with Leeds has been excellent, very close thing at the end
of last season with us [in terms of being selected] and this is a good chance
for him to come back in.
"We worked with him at U21 level, so we know him
anyway. A fabulous moment for him and his family."
Left-back Ben Chilwell misses out on the squad after being
an unused substitute in the first three matches of Chelsea's season. He did not
play a single minute at Euro 2020 for England.
Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood, who has scored
twice in his first two league games this season, is another notable absentee
from Southgate's squad after an impressive start to the campaign.
Southgate says he has spoken to Greenwood and insists the
19-year-old is firmly in his plans, but wants to time his integration into the
senior side at the right time.
"He is in our thoughts," added Southgate.
"I've spoken with him and with his club. He is a player we really like.
"We think he has got every possibility to be a top
England player. We are all very conscious that we make that progress at the
right time. He is just breaking into the team at Manchester United with a lot
of responsibility.
"That is a big thing for a young player to deal with
and we want to get that progression with our seniors as well as we possibly can
so that we get the best possible player at the end.
"We are all aligned on that, the club, his family and
us. We feel at the moment [it is] the best thing for him, after these first few
games with his club, but he is very much a player we like.
"It is clear on his performances at the moment that he
would warrant being in the squad, absolutely."
Southgate has named an enlarged squad of 25 players, to
provide extra cover in the event of any coronavirus cases or potential injuries
this weekend.
England's 25-man squad in full
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Reece James,
Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle
Walker
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Jesse
Lingard, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice
Forwards: Patrick Bamford, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jack
Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling
