Gareth Southgate handed Ivan Toney an England recall - even though the Brentford striker is facing a lengthy FA ban.
And the England boss has also backed Kyle Walker despite the Manchester City defender facing a police investigation after videos emerged online of him allegedly exposing himself in a bar 10 days ago.
In-form Toney, who has scored 17 goals this season, is awaiting the outcome of 232 alleged breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules but Southgate made it clear that he did not want to prejudge the outcome. Southgate said: “The fact is he is playing for his available for his club, there hasn't been a trial or any judgement so I don't know on what basis we wouldn't pick him.
“Ivan has been consistent across the season. I like his presence in games. I saw his game at Arsenal where I thought he was outstanding and he deserves his opportunity.”
Southgate also defended Walker but did hint that position could change if the police decide to bring charges. The FA have insisted Southgate is free to pick Walker as it is a club issue even though the 32-year-old has been in the spotlight in the past for breaking lockdown rules.
"It's a complicated situation, I've spoken at length with him. He is back playing with his club, there's no conclusive evidence to leave him out at this stage,” said Southgate. "I have to be very careful on being the moral judge on things. We feel we want him with us, we feel it's the right thing to do. When you are an England international there is an even high bar on how you conduct yourself. I don't we are taking those decisions likely.
“I don’t want to go too much into hypotheticals but as we sit here today there was no conclusive reason not to select him in the squad. If that changes then we’ve got to review the situation. And he would understand that as well, but at the moment we are where we are.”
They were the two biggest talking points on selection as Chelsea ’s Raheem Sterling missed out amid a hamstring injury with Southgate insisting he would have otherwise picked him. There was no place for Trent Alexander-Arnold or Ben White as Southgate insisted they have so many options on the right of defence while Kalvin Phillips is in despite having not started a single Premier League game for Manchester City this season.
Southgate is facing a major acid test in his first games since insisting that he would stay on after the World Cup. Italy away is the hardest fixture in the group while Ukraine at Wembley will also be tough. But Southgate insisted that he firmly believes England can win the Euros in 2024 and ultimately that is why he stayed on.
Southgate said: “I do think we can. That’s the challenge. I don’t think the players need any more evidence of what’s possible. They have played basically in the biggest games in world football bar one.
“They’ve had results against most of the top teams but we’ve got to do that more consistently. The scenario of going to Italy, where we haven’t won for decades is a classic of the type of game that we’ve got to start winning. If we are looking for the next step to take as a team, that is it.”
England squad in full
Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford ( Everton ), Nick Pope ( Newcastle ), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders : Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Eric Dier ( Tottenham ), Marc Guehi ( Crystal Palace ), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire ( Manchester United ), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier ( Newcastle United ), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson ( Liverpool ), James Maddison ( Leicester City), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice ( West Ham )
Forwards: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Brentford)
