Gareth Southgate has named five Manchester City players and three Manchester United players in his latest England squad.
The Three Lions are in European Championship qualifying action next month with games against Malta and North Macedonia. City defensive pair John Stones and Kyle Walker, midfielder Kalvin Phillips and widemen Jack Grealish and Phil Foden have been called up while United trio Marcus Rashford, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw have also earned call-ups.
England play Malta away on Friday, June 16, before hosting North Macedonia at Old Trafford three days later. The City quintet may well not feature against Malta given the game is six days after Pep Guardiola’s side play Inter Milan in the Champions League final. England are top of their qualifying group after beating Italy and Ukraine in March.
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Southgate said: “We have picked the strongest squad available. It (the short time between the season's end and the qualifiers) hasn't influenced selections at all. It is a difficult season for clubs, the players and us.
"We are always mindful of the welfare of the players and we have to allow players time to recuperate but not to de-condition physically. Like every other country, we have important qualification matches on our way to Germany.
"We have picked a strong squad and the players always enjoy coming here. I think we will manage it as well as we can."
England squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, Sam Johnstone.
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Lewis Dunk, Marc Guehi, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, James Maddison, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice.
Forwards: Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Callum Wilson.
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