England Recall Bukayo Saka While Jude Bellingham, Foden & Grealish Miss Out

Bukayo Saka in action

Bukayo Saka has recorded a dozen goals in 44 games for England.

The national side have included the Arsenal winger for upcoming fixtures versus Latvia and Wales, yet there's no spot for Bellingham, Phil Foden or Jack Grealish.

Gunners attacker Saka was absent from last month's World Cup qualifying wins against Serbia and Andorra with a hamstring injury.

The 24-year-old made a comeback for his club and found the net in their victory against the Greek side midweek.

Saka replaces club colleague Madueke, who is out of action till next month because of a knee problem.

England meet the Welsh in a warm-up match at Wembley on Thursday before a qualifying match in Latvia on 14 October.

Should England triumph against Latvia, they will require a just two more points from their last two qualifiers versus Serbia and Albania in November to reach the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Quansah comes in for Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento, who is out for up to eight weeks following suffering a knee injury versus the Gunners recently.

Elliot Anderson and Spence, who earned their first England call-ups previously, retain their places. Loftus-Cheek also keeps his spot, despite the return to fitness of Wharton.

The attacker has featured in just one game for the manager since he became England manager, due to injury concerns.

The midfielder missed the last England international camp as he was rehabilitating after a shoulder operation and has only made one start for his club since returning to fitness.

The Manchester City player was omitted from the coach’s previous selection after a loss of form and has been unable to force his way back, even with a impressive beginning to the season with Manchester City.

The forward also is excluded in spite of a revival in form with Everton. He has not played for England since last year.

Full Three Lions Squad

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Palace), Jordan Pickford (the Toffees), James Trafford (City)

Backline: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Guehi (Crystal Palace), James (Chelsea), Konsa (Villa), Lewis-Skelly (the Gunners), Jarell Quansah (Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Spurs), John Stones (City)

Midfield: Elliot Anderson (Forest), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Milan), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Attackers: Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Gordon (Newcastle United), Kane (Bayern), Marcus Rashford (Barca), Saka (the Gunners), Watkins (Villa)

'Scrutiny on those left out rather than included'

Thomas Tuchel's new selection brings scrutiny on those the head coach has omitted rather than the players he has selected.

Jude Bellingham's exclusion may raise some eyebrows but the coach understandably feels there is no rush to bring back the Madrid midfielder.

Manchester City's Foden and loanee Grealish have both performed well at the start of the campaign.

Those who the manager used in the team’s World Cup qualifier wins versus Serbia and Andorra deserve the reward of continuity.

There will be disappointment that the Gunners’ Madueke is not included because of a fitness issue.

The Forest player has settled well at international level.

Tuchel is a admirer of Grealish, in particular, and also Foden.

If there is one surprise, it is the absence of Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.

The star, of course, will be needed in the future.

Michael Wallace
Michael Wallace

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