England Recall Bukayo Saka But Jude Bellingham, Foden & Jack Grealish Are Left Out
The Arsenal forward has recorded a dozen goals in 44 appearances for the national team.
The national side have called up the Arsenal winger for next week's fixtures versus Wales and Latvia, yet there's no spot for Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden or Grealish.
Arsenal forward Saka was absent from last month's World Cup qualifying victories over Serbia and Andorra due to a hamstring injury.
Saka made a comeback for his club and found the net in their 2-0 win against the Greek side midweek.
Saka replaces Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke, who is sidelined until November with a knee problem.
The Three Lions meet the Welsh in a warm-up match at Wembley this week prior to a World Cup qualifier in Riga on 14 October.
If England win in Latvia, they will need a maximum of two points from their final two qualifiers against Serbia and Albania in November to qualify for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Leverkusen's Jarell Quansah replaces Newcastle United’s Livramento, who is out for up to eight weeks following suffering a knee issue against the Gunners last weekend.
Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence, who earned their maiden national team selections last month, retain their places. Ruben Loftus-Cheek also keeps his spot, even with the return to fitness of Adam Wharton.
Saka has featured in just a single match for the manager since he became England manager, because of fitness and hamstring injuries.
Bellingham missed the last England international camp as he was rehabilitating after a shoulder operation and has managed just one start for his club since returning to fitness.
Foden was left out from the coach’s last England squad after a dip in performance and has been unsuccessful in returning, even with a strong start to the campaign with City.
Grealish also misses out despite a resurgence on loan at Everton. The 30-year-old has not featured for England since October 2024.
Full England Squad
Goalkeepers: Henderson (Palace), Pickford (the Toffees), Trafford (Manchester City)
Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (the Blues), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Lewis-Skelly (the Gunners), Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (the Bees), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (AC Milan), Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (the Gunners), Gordon (Newcastle United), Kane (Bayern Munich), Marcus Rashford (Barca), Bukayo Saka (the Gunners), Ollie Watkins (Villa)
'Attention turns to excluded players'
The manager’s latest England squad brings scrutiny to the players the boss has left out instead of the included names.
Jude Bellingham's exclusion may raise some eyebrows but the coach believes there is no need to recall the Madrid midfielder.
Manchester City's Foden and on-loan Everton forward Jack Grealish have both performed well at the start of the season.
Those who the manager used in England's qualifying victories against Andorra and Serbia deserve the chance to continue.
There will be disappointment that Arsenal's Madueke is not included because of a fitness issue.
The Forest player has settled well at international level.
The England boss is a admirer of Grealish, especially, as well as Foden.
One unexpected move, it is the exclusion of Palace’s Adam Wharton.
The star, naturally, will be required in the future.
