England squad confirmed: Raheem Sterling out, Eberechi Eze wins first call-up as Ben White out
Sterling has struggled with declining form and injuries since joining Stamford Bridge last summer and was due to be sidelined for next month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
Southgate explained, after speaking with the player, that it was decided Sterling would be left out of the squad due to his own concerns over his fitness.
“I spoke with him about a week ago,” Southgate told reporters. “A general catch-up. He is not physically happy with his condition, he has a hamstring problem. He was not considered. He doesn’t think he is functioning at the level he needs.
Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze has won his first England call-up after a brilliant end to the season under Roy Hodgson.
Eberechi Eze is playing the best football of his career
/ Getty ImagesThere’s also no room for Arsenal’s Ben White or Tottenham’s Eric Dier, but Harry Maguire gets the call despite struggling at Manchester United, plus the returns of Lewis Dunk from Brighton and Tyrone Mings from Manchester United. AstonVilla.
White left the England side at the Qatar World Cup for personal reasons and was later dropped from the squad to face Italy and Ukraine in March, but Southgate says the door is still open for him at the international level.
Callum Wilson is back, having missed the last squad through injury, when the now-banned Ivan Toney was picked.
Southgate is believed to have held talks with Sterling over the decision to omit him. Sterling has been a senior player in the setup under Southgate, who will be hoping the striker will be given a longer break this summer to recover properly.
Sterling has endured a troubled year since his £50m move from Manchester City and recently admitted this season has been “one of the lowest points of my career”.
Raheem Sterling has endured a torrid season
/ Chelsea F.C. via Getty ImagesHe had to deal with three head coaching changes at Chelsea and returned from the World Cup after his house was burglarized, only to later return to the tournament.
Sterling missed England’s games against Italy and Ukraine in March through injury, and was due to be ruled out for games in Malta on June 16 and at Old Trafford three days later against North Macedonia. North.
Injuries and Manchester City’s progress to the Champions League final on June 10 have complicated Southgate’s plans for matches.
Chelsea trio Mason Mount, Reece James and Ben Chilwell are unlikely to play again this season. Southgate is set to leave City’s English contingent of John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips for the game against Malta.
The full England squad
Guardians: 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)
Sports standard
