The England Nations League squad is out for the Three Lions' October fixtures against Greece and Finland, and Lee Carsley has made some even more interesting decisions.
Carsley replaced Gareth Southgate on an interim basis to take charge of England's fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, securing comfortable 2-0 wins in both fixtures. And the 50-year-old will remain in the dugout for the Nations League matches against Greece and Finland (again), as England look to top their group.
In September, Carsley made some big decisions, with wholesale changes from the side that reached the Euro 2024 final in Berlin in July. Angel Gomes, Noni Madueke and Morgan Gibbs-White were all given opportunities to make their senior debuts, while out-of-form stars were omitted.
And while there's certainly been some consistency between the side he picked in September and the one for October, players who have failed to hit the ground running at club level have seen themselves replaced in the England squad.
Harry Maguire, Eberechi Eze and Jarrod Bowen have all been left out this time around, with Dominic Solanke coming into the squad. The Tottenham striker has scored twice in the Premier League so far this term, and earns his first call up in seven years - his only minutes for England came in November 2017, during a friendly against Brazil.
Carsley has only selected 25 players for his squad this time around, with Jude Bellingham also making his return to the team after missing the September internationals through injury. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins all withdrew from the squad on that occasion through minor injuries and illness, though they're all fit to face Greece and Finland.
Hosting Greece at Wembley Stadium on Thursday 10 October, England will then travel to Helsinki to take on Finland on Sunday 13 October. Wins are still imperative at this stage - especially against Greece, who have also managed six points from their first two games.
Only the winner from the group will earn promotion back to League A, where England will feel they belong.
FourFourTwo is here to bring you all the latest on the Three Lions. We have information and insight on the country's Nations League campaign – as well as bringing you all the news and updates on who will be given the job permanently. We go again, in preparation for a World Cup in 2026…
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England Nations League squad
England Nations League squad: The full team
- GK: Jordan Pickford (Everton)
- GK: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace)
- GK: Nick Pope (Newcastle United)
- DF: Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
- DF: Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa)
- DF: Levi Colwill (Chelsea)
- DF: John Stones (Manchester City)
- DF: Rico Lewis (Manchester City)
- DF: Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace)
- DF: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
- MF: Declan Rice (Arsenal)
- MF: Angel Gomes (Lille)
- MF: Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
- MF: Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid)
- MF: Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
- MF: Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)
- MF: Phil Foden (Manchester City)
- FW: Dominic Solanke (Tottenham)
- FW: Jack Grealish (Manchester City)
- FW: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich)
- FW: Noni Madueke (Chelsea)
- FW: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
- FW: Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)
- FW: Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
England fixtures and results
September 7: Republic of Ireland 0-2 England, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
September 10: England 2-0 Finland, Wembley Stadium, London, England
October 10: England v Greece, Wembley Stadium, London, England
October 13: Finland v England, Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland
November 14: Greece v England, Athens Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece
November 17: England v Republic of Ireland, Wembley Stadium, London, England
England manager: Lee Carsley
Lee Carsley's career was solid, with nearly 200 Premier League appearances for the likes of Everton, Birmingham, Derby and Blackburn. His management career is now set for a huge spotlight, however, as he takes temporary charge of his nation.
As the manager behind England's European Under-21 Championship win last summer, Carsley had his Lion cubs playing exquisite football based on fluidity, diligence off the ball and intelligence to know where your team-mates are. The objective is clear: ease in some future stars and re-ignite an excitement for the national team that some fans felt had gone stale under Southgate.
Carsley knows that if he shines, he'll get the job permanently. But first off, he needs to navigate a Nations League campaign. Things have already started well for the 50-year-old, with 2-0 wins against the Republic of Ireland and Finland a great base to continue from - it's just about keeping that momentum, and the feel-good factor, around the national team that will prove most difficult.
England's star player
Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham finished his first season as a Real Madrid player by winning the Champions League in his home country against his former club. It would have capped off an incredible campaign to win the Euros – yet it wasn't to be.
Bellingham was injured for the first Nations League games of 2024 but returns this October and will inevitably be key to Carsley's future. With the attacking midfielder sharing the same pockets as Phil Foden for much of Euro 2024, England's next manager – whether that's Carsley, or whoever – will have to platform this world-class talent to get the best out of him.
Bellingham's return might actually see him operate from a deeper position - Cole Palmer has proved so devastating with Chelsea that, in order to facilitate his talents, Carsley starts the Real Madrid man in a more box-to-box role.
