Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi have been included in the England squad for this month’s friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast at Wembley but there is no place for Tyrick Mitchell in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Midfielder Gallagher, on loan from Chelsea, made his senior debut in the 10-0 win over San Marino in autumn and has kicked on with his club form since. He has eight goals and three assists for Patrick Vieira's team and there is an expectation that he will be given every chance to make a breakthrough at Stamford Bridge next season, giving his hopes of making it into November's World Cup squad a further boost.
Guehi, meanwhile, has won promotion from being Under-21 captain. The centre back has started in 28 of Palace's league games since joining on a permanent deal from Chelsea in the summer and he wore the armband in Monday night's scoreless draw against leaders Manchester City at Selhurst Park.
READ MORE: Arsenal stars get England call for friendlies
There had been hopes that Mitchell, the 22-year-old left back, would receive a first call up because Chelsea's Ben Chilwell remains out with injury and Manchester United's Luke Shaw has not impressed of late. Arsenal youngsters Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe are included plus goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and centre back Ben White.
Manchester United forwards Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are among those not to be selected, along with Manchester City defender Kyle Walker. Southgate is set to speak to the media about the squad’s composition at 2pm and the manager will likely face further questions around the moral dilemma of playing a World Cup in Qatar.
This international break is being viewed as one of the final chances to experiment ahead of November's tournament. England begin their Nations League campaign in June, with four competitive fixtures scheduled, before two more matches in September.
England squad: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White; Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse; Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling.
