Gareth Southgate has confirmed that Raheem Sterling is missing from his latest England squad due to injury - whereas Ben White and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been snubbed.
The Three Lions boss named his 25-man roster on Thursday for the upcoming clashes with Italy and Ukraine, as England begin their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. Southgate and Co. travel to Naples in a week's time to face their old Italian rivals before welcoming a side from war-torn Ukraine to Wembley next Sunday.
While Ivan Toney has received a call-up amid a Football Association investigation into his 232 alleged betting offences, the trio of Alexander-Arnold, White and Sterling are absent. "Raheem is not fit, so that's that one," Southgate explained at a press conference on Thursday to explain his selection choices.
"With Ben and Trent, we have three boys in at right full-backs and we have got them just ahead of those two. We're blessed in that position with depth of talent. It is the hardest position to pick."
Chelsea star Reece James returns as a right-back option after missing the World Cup through injury, while regulars Kyle Walker - himself the subject of a police probe for allegedly exposing himself in a Manchester bar - and Kieran Trippier have also got the nod. "It is never straightforward criteria and it is always shifting around on form," the England manager went on to say.
"Kyle and Tripps started games at the World Cup and Reece coming back is another top player so, yes, we would love to have that depth in every position on the field really."
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Brighton duo Solly March and Lewis Dunk also didn't make the cut despite their outstanding form at club level. "They are playing very well," Southgate said of the pair. "The coach [Roberto De Zerbi] has the team playing in a unique style in our league.
"Solly is a player we know well but at the moment I don't see him ahead of [Marcus] Rashford, [Jack] Grealish, [Bukayo] Saka in those positions on the field. They are hard calls.
"We're always watching everybody and there is not a game we miss. We know there are some players playing well but I have to pick the team I think gives us the best chance of winning in two big matches coming up. You have to get the experience right for those types of games as well."
As for Brentford striker Toney, he'll be involved in the Three Lions set-up for only the second time. Keen not to pre-judge the 26-year-old amid his ongoing investigation, Southgate stated: "The fact is that he is available for his club, there hasn’t been any trial or judgement as yet, so I don't know any basis not to pick him really."
