Noni Madueke has been rewarded for his brilliant start to the season for Chelsea with a first England call-up under interim boss Lee Carsley.
But Ben White’s England exile continues, while there was no return to the squad for Tottenham’s James Maddison. Angel Gomes of Lille is a shock inclusion, having starred for England at youth levels under the interim boss.
Carsley named his first squad since succeeding Gareth Southgate on a temporary basis, following the manager’s resignation in the wake of England’s defeat by Spain in last month’s Euro 2024 Final, with Chelsea winger Madueke making the cut.
The 22-year-old scored a 15-minute hat-trick against Wolves on Sunday and was part of Carsley’s Under-21 squad that won the 2023 European Championship. Blues teammate Levi Colwill is also in the squad.
Arsenal defender White returned home midway through England’s 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar and has since made himself unavailable for selection, despite overtures from Southgate ahead of the Euros.
White’s situation is understood to remain the same, despite the change in England coaching staff, leaving Carsley to turn to other defenders for the Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Spurs playmaker Maddison was among the seven players cut from Southgate’s provisional squad for the Euros in Germany and was today left out again by Carsley, despite an impressive start to the season.
Jack Grealish, however, has returned after missing Euro 2024.
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham will miss the games through injury, along with Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw, while Curtis Jones and Jarrad Branthwaite are struggling with injuries.
Kieran Trippier confirmed his decision to retire from international football on Thursday, before the squad was announced.
Confirmed England squad for games against Republic of Ireland and Finland
Goalkeepers: Pickford; Henderson, Pope
Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Colwill, Guehi, Konsa, Lewis, Livramento, Maguire, Stones
Midfielders: Foden, Gallagher, Gibbs-White, Gomes, Mainoo, Palmer, Rice
Forwards: Madueke, Grealish, Kane, Gordon, Eze, Bowen, Saka, Watkins
