Ivan Toney has been rewarded with his first England call-up.
Brentford striker Toney, 26, has hit five goals in six Premier League games this season and now has an incredible audition for a place in the World Cup squad.
Toney’s rise into the England frame is a real Roy of the Rovers story as he did not make it at Newcastle, had loan spells at Barnsley, Shrewsbury, Scunthorpe and Wigan before a prolific spell at Peterborough.
Brentford did a £10m deal in 2020 and he has turned himself into a Premier League hit to keep them up and has now started the campaign in irresistible form.
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Tottenham defender Eric Dier is also back in the squad after nearly two years in the international wilderness which is also reward for his resurgence under Antonio Conte.
England boss Gareth Southgate has always remained a big fan of Dier - who has won 45 caps - because of his ability as a player who can operate in defence, in a back three and also in midfield.
Southgate has recalled him amid a defensive crisis with Harry Maguire not playing at Manchester United and central defence is the biggest issue with less than two months before they fly to the World Cup.
Luke Shaw is in the squad despite recent injury worries while Marcus Rashford misses out after United asked the Football Association not to include him.
Rashford missed Manchester United’s Europa League trip to Sheriff with a muscle issue and that leaves him running out of time to force his way in for Qatar.
Liverpool's Jordan Henderson and Everton keeper Jordan Pickford are among the big names to miss out through injury while there is no place for Arsenal's Ben White who has been carrying a niggle but has also started the season at right back.
Southgate has named a 28 man squad for the Nations League double header with Italy and Germany with England desperate to get the campaign back on track and not finish bottom which would put them in a harder Euros qualifying seeding Group.
This is the last squad Southgate names before the World Cup begins in November and the get together is the last before Qatar.
Discussing his squad, Southgate said: “We recognise the country is still in a period of mourning and my thoughts remain with the Royal Family. While it is important to explain some of our decisions around selection, we didn’t feel it appropriate to hold a full press conference, when it might divert attention from where people’s minds should be at this time.
“This is a bigger than normal squad and part of the rationale is that we are very close to a World Cup and we feel, although our results were disappointing in the summer, we have picked on the basis of form and capability over a long period.
“There were certain players we wanted to keep involved this time, but that said it doesn’t mean that this is the end for some of the others who aren’t involved. Marcus Rashford, for example, has shown some encouraging signs recently. He is a player we know well so if he can perform at a high level in the next few weeks, he of course will be under consideration.
“Clearly, we have a number of players including Ben Chilwell, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips who are not playing a lot of minutes with their club. It is not ideal, but we feel they have been, and can be, important players for us. It is not a perfect situation but there is still a lot of football to be played before Qatar.
“With Eric Dier, he has been playing well for a period of time. We think it is a really close call across our centre-backs and he has deserved to be picked back in the group. We know what a good character he is. He fits in with the culture and has great international experience and leadership qualities.
“With Ivan Toney, we have been tracking him for a long time. I had a good chat with Thomas Frank about him last season. His form and his qualities - not only his goalscoring but his technical ability, build-up play and aerial prowess - gives us a different threat to some of the other players we could pick.
“Reflecting on the last couple of months, clearly as an international manger you don’t have any games to quickly put the disappointment behind you. We have had a long period to reflect but now we are really looking forward to two high-quality matches that will be a great test for us and a crucial part of our preparation for the World Cup. It is only eight weeks until we will be naming our squad for Qatar so every minute counts.”
England squad : Dean Henderson, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Chilwell, Conor Coady, Eric Dier, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse, Tammy Abraham, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Ivan Toney.
