Gareth Southgate announced his England squad earlier today ahead of the Three Lions' World Cup qualifiers against San Marino, Albania and Poland over the next two weeks. There are two new faces to the International set up in West Brom keeper Sam Johnstone and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins whilst three players have been recalled in John Stones, Luke Shaw and Jesse Lingard.
Ollie Watkins is a surprising selection because I thought that Patrick Bamford would get the call due to the season he is having. But overall I think he deserves his call up because he's had a good first season in the Premier League by scoring 10 goals which is a good return for a player who was in the Championship last season. Sam Johnstone is a surprisingly inclusion who had to be in because current no.1 Jordan Pickford is out injured. But I do feel that he has deserved his call up because he's arguably been West Brom's best player this season despite them conceding the most goals in the league this season.
The three players who have been recalled had no chance of a look in at the time of the last international break because they were either not playing or out of form. They're now in the best form of their careers so far and they've had to work hard in order to get back into the squad. John Stones was looking out of favour at the start of the season and whenever he's been given an opportunity by his manager, he's taken it. He's learnt from his past mistakes and is now one of the first names on the City team sheet. Luke Shaw has had a tough time over the years with injuries and a lack of form which saw him fall down the pecking order. He's put those issues behind him this season by putting in good displays on a consistent basis which has arguably made him the best left back in the Premier League this season. Jesse Lingard has been suffering from a lack of confidence for the last season or two which saw him fall out of favour at Man United. But since joining West Ham on loan in January, he's looked back to his best by scoring goals and creating chances for his teammates. He's rediscovered his confidence from two or three years ago.
In terms of the rest of the squad, I'm quite surprised that Trent Alexander Arnold has been left out because he's been England's first choice right back for the last year or so. But at the same time I can see why he's been dropped because he hasn't had the best of seasons and players like Reece James are in better form than him hence why the Chelsea man has been selected ahead of him. I'm surprised that Eric Dier is still in because I don't think he's been as good as he was earlier in the season. His form has dropped off quite a bit since Christmas along with Spurs'. I was expecting Phil Foden and Mason Mount to keep their places because they've been in good form since the last international break and are two of England's best young players at the moment. With James Maddison and Jordan Henderson both missing out through injury, James Ward Prowse's inclusion makes sense because he's a player who is good from set pieces and can pick out a pass from anywhere on the pitch.
FULL ENGLAND SQUAD:
GOALKEEPERS: Dean Henderson, Nick Pope, Sam Johnstone
DEFENDERS: Kyle Walker, Kieron Trippier, Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Conor Coady, Tyrone Mings, Eric Dier
MIDFIELDERS: Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips, Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Phil Foden, James Ward Prowse, Jesse Lingard, Bukayo Saka
FORWARDS: Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Dominic Calvert Lewin, Ollie Watkins
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