England squad LIVE: Eberechi Eze called up as Gareth Southgate names squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers

Eberechi Eze received his first call-up and Lewis Dunk returned four-and-a-half years after his only cap as Gareth Southgate named the England squad for June's qualifiers.

Having kicked off Euro 2024 qualification with wins against Italy and Ukraine, Group C continues with next month's double header against Malta and North Macedonia.

Southgate has named a 25-man squad, with Eric Dier and Raheem Sterling the high-profile absentees and Crystal Palace attacking midfielder Eze the only uncapped player in the group.

Brighton captain Dunk returned for the first time since making his debut against the United States in November 2018.

Callum Wilson, Tyrone Mings, Sam Johnstone and Trent Alexander-Arnold also returned to the fold.

England Euro 2024 qualifiers squad

• Ebe Eze handed first call-up; Sterling left out by Southgate

• Full England squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers vs Malta and North Macedonia

• Southgate on Eze selection

• England boss discusses Ivan Toney ban

14:59 , Sonia Twigg

Eberechi Eze earns call up as England name squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers

England squad announcement latest news

14:55 , Sonia Twigg

Southgate on Trent Alexander-Arnold, reported by PA: “He is a super footballer. He is obviously playing in a slightly different role which has invigorated him in the last few months.

“He has always been in advanced areas of the pitch with the ball. He is just a bit more central now.

“That’s interesting for us – no question. It’s something I’ve talked to him about and we’re looking forward to working with Trent.”

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Gareth Southgate was asked about the racism surrounding Vinicius Jr in La Liga

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Southgate praised Eze after handing the Crystal Palace midfielder a maiden call up into the senior squad

England squad announcement latest news

14:35 , Sonia Twigg

Lewis Dunk was called up by Gareth Southgate for the upcoming internationals

England squad announcement latest news

14:30 , Sonia Twigg

Toney has also been given support by Southgate, and a possible way back into the England squad.

The manager said the Brentford striker remains in with a chance of playing in the Euros next summer.

“Yeah without a doubt he could play at the Euros),” Southgate said.

“It is not ideal because he is going to miss a large chunk of the season and you don’t know after that sort of period out how physically he is going to adapt and how he is going to play.

“But it is possible for him. There would still be time. He has really impressed us with the way he has played and I like personality.

“I like his belief and the way he goes about his job. So everything is still possible with him I think.”

England squad announcement latest news

14:27 , Sonia Twigg

Southgate expressed his concern at Toney’s eight-month ban for gambling offences, primarily over the forward’s well-being.

“I have spoken with him. I don’t know if that’s allowed, by the way,” the England manager said, with Toney suspended from all football-related activity.

“If it isn’t then they can ban me and not add to his. Look, the ban is the ban. It is what it is. I think he recognised any accepted the punishment. What bothers me is we’ve got to look after people.

“He’s injured at the moment, what does he do about getting fit? How do we give him some structure over the next few months that he can develop himself or be a better person at the end of it or have experiences that he might not experience?

“I don’t like the idea that we just leave somebody so they are not allowed to be a part of the football community. I don’t think that’s how we should work, I don’t think that’s how the best rehabilitation programmes would work.

“But he knows that we picked him because we felt until there was a charge, he should be allowed to play. When he comes back, if he plays well then we’ll pick him.

“It won’t have any bearing but I think he’ll have additional motivation through what he is experiencing. I think he is a resilient guy with great character and we are here to support.”

England squad announcement latest news

14:22 , Sonia Twigg

England are sigificantly higher up in the Fifa world rankings than their opponents in the upcoming international break, however Southgate has selected a strong squad.

When asked about the decision, he said, reported by PA: “We have played North Macedonia twice at home and never beaten them. To be a top team, if we want to be European champions, we have got to nail big games – like we did in March – and make sure we nail the complicated ones.

“It is a good test of commitment and togetherness. This group don’t want to let each other down. We want to keep progressing as a team.”

England squad announcement latest news

14:20 , Sonia Twigg

Southgate on the decision to call up Eze, reported by PA: “We have liked him for a long time. I think he has finished the season really strongly. He can play in a couple of positions across the attacking line.

“He is a goal threat, he’s got nice ability and speed to go past people and can take people out of the game with his dribbling skills. We are looking forward to seeing him a bit closer.”

England squad announcement latest news

14:15 , Sonia Twigg

Southgate said at a press conference, about the decision to leave Sterling out: “I spoke with him a week or so ago – a general catch-up.

“He’s not happy physically with his condition, having been carrying a hamstring problem. He really wasn’t in consideration.

“We didn’t get to the point of whether he should be in or out. He doesn’t think he is operating at the level he needs.”

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Eberechi Eze earns call up as England name squad for Euro 2024 qualifiers

England squad announcement latest news

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Raheem Sterling was one of the high-profile names left out of Southgate’s 25-man squad.

Sterling, who has won 82 caps, has endured a difficult first season since joining Chelsea from Manchester City.

A representative for the forward told the PA news agency: “Following a private conversation between coach and player, a mutual decision has been made for Raheem Sterling to sit out the upcoming internationals, focusing instead on recuperating his body in preparation for the upcoming season.”

England squad announcement latest news

14:07 , Sonia Twigg

Lewis Dunk was recalled by Southgate, having last played for England in 2018, but has impressed for Brighton as they contemplate European football next season.

Tyrone Mings also makes his return to the squad, having last played in March 2022.

In the absence of Nick Pope, Sam Johnstone was brought back into the Three Lions’ squad.

Kalvin Phillips remains part of Gareth Southgate’s squad, despite his limited involvement for Manchester City this season.

The 27-year-old has made just 26 appearances this campaign, of which seven have been in an England shirt.

Phillips has found his opportunities at City severly restricted - to just one Premier League start, and just nine times coming on from the bench.

England squad announcement latest news

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The Squad: Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United)

Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), James Maddison (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)

14:00 , Sonia Twigg

Nick Pope has been left out of the England squad for the upcoming matches against Malta and North Macedonia.

The Newcastle goalkeeper has played 10 times for England since he received his first cap back in 2018.

Pope travelled to the Qatar World Cup in the winter, but was an unused substitute during England’s journey to the quarter-finals.

Eberechi Eze has received his maiden call up to the senior squad, having played at both under-20 and under-21 level previously.

England squad announcement latest news

13:52 , Sonia Twigg

Callum Wilson could be an attractive option for Gareth Southgate, especially with the ban issued to Brentford’s Ivan Toney.

The forward has scored 11 goals since Southgate left him out of the squad for the European Championship qualifiers in March, with Toney earning his first cap despite having already been charged by the FA for betting offences.

Wilson went to the World Cup in Qatar, but his club form struggled afterwards, although he has improved towards the end of Newcastle’ Premier League campaign.

England squad announcement latest news

13:46 , Sonia Twigg

Southgate could choose to be slightly cautious over including Bellingham in the squad.

The midfielder, who has been linked with a Premier League move in the summer although he currently plays for Borussia Dortmund has had a slight injury issue.

Bellingham missed Dortmund’s win at Augsburg on Sunday with a knee issue, and is a doubt for the final Bundesliga game of the season next weekend against Mainz.

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13:34 , Karl Matchett

Given it’s the end of the season, the fixtures are not the most testing of the campaign, the volume of action some players have seen and the fact it was a mid-season World Cup this year, it might not be a big surprise to see Southgate name two entirely different lineups for these fixtures - or close to it, anyway.

Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford and the like might expect to feature in both, fitness pending, but there’s scope to hand chances out elsewhere.

Upcoming fixtures for England:

• Away vs Malta, 16 June (7:45pm kic-off)

• Home vs North Macedonia, 19 June (7:45pm kick-off)

England squad announcement latest news

13:31 , Karl Matchett

Worth pointing out that Man City’s players will be called up, but will arrive late and miss the first few training sessions due to their involvement in the Champions League final.

The likes of Kyle Walker, John Stones, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and perhaps Kalvin Phillips could therefore be more likely to feature in the second match rather than the first, especially if - as expected - Southgate names a bigger squad than might usually be the case.

England squad latest

13:29 , Karl Matchett

Who else is set for inclusion?

Brighton centre-back Lewis Dunk is widely tipped to get a call-up having starred for the Seagulls this term, with Roberto De Zerbi’s side closing in on a top-six finish.

Brentford left-back Rico Henry is mentioned by the Times as having impressed Southgate and his staff and his passage to the Three Lions squad could be eased by Ben Chilwell’s absence. Fellow Chelsea players Mason Mount and Reece James are also out, as is Newcastle keeper Nick Pope who has had surgery on his hand.

Ebe Eze is also hoping for a call-up, with the Crystal Palace attacking midfielder in excellent form at the end of this season.

England squad latest

13:24 , Karl Matchett

There are unlikely to be huge surprises in Gareth Southgate’s squad today, but there will be eyes on a few players not involved last time out.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben White, Luke Shaw, Raheem Sterling and Callum Wilson were all not involved in March - each have ended the season with an upturn in form though.

Reports on Tuesday suggested Chelsea forward Sterling could miss out again in any case, while one player who won’t be involved who was in the squad last time is Brentford striker Ivan Toney.

The one-cap forward has been suspended from all football activities for eight months by the FA.

Bellingham and Saka are the new untouchables in Southgate’s England 4.0

13:20 , Karl Matchett

Across Europe, it is a time of new beginnings and new eras, of new players and new managers. That can be the way after major tournaments: disappointments lead to clearouts, international retirements to opportunities, different regimes to a shift in thinking and personnel. Then there is England. While change has been a guiding theme, whether for France or Germany, Spain or Italy, Gareth Southgate’s side have been Europe’s kings of continuity.

Two games have brought one brief debut, for Ivan Toney. Nine of their World Cup quarter-final starting 11 began the first Euro 2024 qualifier. If the broader theme is one of more of the same, but preferably with a different ending featuring the glint of silverware, the fixture list offered precious little scope for experimentation: not when the first game was Italy in Naples. With six points from six, the tried and trusted have passed their test. Southgate was considering his future until the World Cup. England now have added reasons to be glad he stayed on.

Rich Jolly on Southgate’s fourth iteration of England:

Bellingham and Saka are the new untouchables in Southgate’s England 4.0

Newcastle striker Callum Wilson set for England recall

13:12 , Karl Matchett

Callum Wilson is in line for an England recall as boss Gareth Southgate waits on Jude Bellingham’s fitness.

Newcastle striker Wilson has scored 11 goals since he was overlooked for the European Championship qualifying wins against Italy and Ukraine in March.

On Wednesday Southgate names his squad for the Euro 2024 qualifiers in Malta on June 16 and at home to North Macedonia in Manchester on June 19, with England top of Group C.

Wilson has helped spearhead the Magpies’ top-four charge and they confirmed their return to the Champions League after 20 years with Monday’s 0-0 draw against Leicester.

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