James Maddison and Ben White have been called up to the England squad for the World Cup.
Gareth Southgate has named Maddison in his final 26-man squad for Qatar because of his dazzling form for Leicester this season, one of seven changes from the squad which reached the Euro 2020 final last summer.
White has been in excellent form for Arsenal and his versatility has earned him a recall, and he is set to provide cover at centre-half and wing-back after Chelsea’s Reece James was ruled out through injury.
Marcus Rashford has been recalled, while Southgate called up Newcastle striker Callum Wilson. Brentford forward Ivan Toney has been left out.
Southgate finalised his travelling party for Qatar this afternoon, which can be amended for injuries until 5pm on Monday, November 14, with Rashford rewarded for his fine form for Manchester United with a return from the international wilderness.
The 25-year-old has not played for England since the defeat by Italy in the final of Euro 2020 but he has been resurgent under new United head coach Erik ten Hag. He has scored seven times so far this season and last month scored his 100th goal for United.
Rashford will offer Southgate an option either side of Harry Kane and will compete with Wilson to be the England captain’s understudy through the middle.
Wilson won the last of his four caps in October 2019 and, like Rashford, struggled with injuries before hitting his stride for Newcastle this season, scoring six times in 10 League appearances for the in-form Magpies.
The inclusion of Rashford and Wilson ends Toney’s hopes of a dream call-up, while Roma’s Tammy Abraham and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin missed out.
Southgate has gambled on the fitness of Kyle Walker and his Manchester City team-mate Kalvin Phillips, who are both recovering from injuries.
Maddison, who has scored six times this season, has not played for England since earning his one cap to date, in June 2019.
In October that year, Maddison withdrew from an England squad due to illness and was later pictured in a casino. He has been out of the picture since.
Bukayo Saka can cover at left wing-back, with Luke Shaw the only recognised left-sided defender in the squad after Ben Chilwell was ruled out through injury.
City defender Walker is recovering from groin surgery after suffering an injury at the start of October but the 32-year-old has declared himself ready for the finals.
Phillips was a substitute for City in their Carabao Cup win against Chelsea last night, having not played since mid-September because of a shoulder issue that also required an operation.
Southgate decided against taking Chelsea defender James, despite the right-back telling him he believed he could be fit in time to play.
Southgate will hope for no further injuries in the final round of domestic fixtures this weekend. With Manchester United in action against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup tonight and then a full round of Premier League games to come, a number of players have been placed on standby.
England are due to fly to Qatar next Tuesday before facing Iran in their opening group game on November 21.
England World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Pickford, Pope, Ramsdale;
Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Coady, Dier, Maguire, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker, White;
Midfielders: Bellingham, Gallagher, Rice, Henderson, Mount, Phillips;
Forwards: Foden, Grealish, Kane, Maddison, Rashford, Saka, Sterling, Wilson
