England: Tammy Abraham, Joe Gomez & Ruben Loftus-Cheek called up

Media caption,

I don't know how you get in the England squad if you can't get in the Arsenal team

England have called up the uncapped Tammy Abraham, Joe Gomez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil this month.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge and midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been left out, as has Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling.

Team-mate Ashley Young, who last played for his country in September 2013, has been recalled.

Tottenham's Danny Rose and Leicester's Jamie Vardy return from injury.

England play Germany on 10 November and Brazil on 14 November at Wembley.

England squad

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Joe Hart (West Ham - loan from Manchester City), Jordan Pickford (Everton)

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Danny Rose (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace - loan from Chelsea), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Harry Winks (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Manchester United)

Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Swansea - loan from Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jamie Vardy (Leicester)

'Young's displays warrant a recall' - reaction

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Ashley Young (left) has won 30 caps for England - he last played for his country in September 2013

When asked about the selection of the trio of uncapped players, England manager Gareth Southgate said: "If I'm asking club managers to be brave and pick young players, I think I've got to do the same."

Chelsea striker Abraham, 20, has been in good form since joining Swansea on loan, having scored five goals in 13 appearances.

Defender Gomez, 20, has been a Liverpool regular, while Chelsea midfielder Loftus-Cheek, 21, has played seven games on loan at Crystal Palace.

Southgate also explained Smalling's exclusion and the recall of his team-mate Young.

"I have huge respect for Chris. He is a player playing at a big club," Southgate said.

"We want to play in a certain way and the players I have brought in I want to see using the ball from the back and building it up in a certain way."

"Young's performances warrant a recall," he added. "We want to play with wing-backs - I think it's a role he can perform, left or right, very well. He's played very well for Manchester United.

"Generally speaking, we want to look at younger players, and develop the team, but I've always said if a more senior player is playing well and warrants the call-up, we should include them."

Image source, PA
Image caption,

Abraham, who is also eligible to play for Nigeria, has featured at youth level for England

Analysis

Ian Dennis, BBC Radio 5 live senior football reporter

The England manager had no hesitation when I asked him if he would be brave enough to take the young players to Russia next summer. "Absolutely" he said, after he called up three new faces into his 25-man squad that has an average age of just over 24.

Young is recalled - a deserved recall - after an absence of four years, which proves the door is never closed. It's something that Southgate highlighted on the phone to Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe when he explained why he was not included.

There is also no Chris Smalling as Southgate wants to look at other defensive options and develop a back three who are comfortable playing out from the back.

Southgate also revealed that "not many" are assured of a place in the squad of 23 for Russia as he believes there is so much competition for places.

The reality is, time is in short supply to impress. After Germany and Brazil this month, there are two more high-profile friendlies in March before Southgate will be much clearer in his mind as to what his World Cup squad will be.

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