Lee Carsley has named his 26-man squad for England’s Nations League games There are some big omissions and surprise inclusions in his first squad LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! , available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Marcus Rashford and Kyle Walker are among the omissions from Lee Carsley’s first England squad selection ahead of their upcoming Nations League fixtures.
There are some notable inclusions in the squad including four uncapped players.
Chelsea’s Noni Madueke – fresh off his hat-trick against Wolves – Nottingham Forest’s Morgan-Gibbs White, Newcastle full-back Tino Livramento and Lille midfielder Angel Gomes all make the squad.
The latter’s inclusion comes two weeks after he suffered a nasty head injury in a Ligue 1 match with Reims which led to him being taken off the pitch on a stretcher.
There are also returns to the squad for Jack Grealish who was left out of Gareth Southgate’s final Euro 2024 squad, Rico Lewis, Levi Colwill and Nick Pope.
Marcus Rashford and Kyle Walker are the big omissions from Lee Carsley’s first England squad
Uncapped Morgan Gibbs-White and Angel Gomes are among four uncapped players involved
Tino Livramento and Noni Madueke are the other two uncapped players included
Lee Carsley said he wanted to stamp down his own changes on his first squad as England boss
Lee Carsley’s 26-man squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Levi Colwill, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Rico Lewis, Tino Livramento, Harry Maguire, John Stones
Midfielders: Phil Foden, Conor Gallagher, Morgan Gibbs-White, Angel Gomes, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Declan Rice
One player who was not available for selection was Kieran Trippier, who today announced his retirement from England duty after picking up 54 caps during his career.
Ben White’s absence from the squad continues despite Gareth Southgate and Steve Holland no longer being part of the coaching staff.
Jude Bellingham was another player not available for selection after picking up an injury with Real Madrid.
Other players who made the Euro 2024 squad but have been left out, include Aaron Ramsdale, Luke Shaw, Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Adam Wharton and Ivan Toney.
In his first squad announcement press conference, Carsley said that he wanted to ‘put my own stamp on the squad’ and vows to ask players to ‘play to their strengths’.
Regarding the omission of Walker, Carsley said: ‘I wanted to put a mark on the squad. Kyle hasn’t played this season. City are phasing him in gently and we have to respect that.’
Addressing the inclusions of Gibbs-White and Gomes, both part of Carsley’s U21 teams in the past, Carsley added: ‘Morgan is attacking, full of energy and with a great attitude. Excellent work rate. Lots of the players I have called in are used to winning.
‘Angel is different to what we have seen in central midfield before. He controls the game with skill and technique rather than by being robust.’
Jack Grealish is back in the squad after he was cut from the final Euro 2024 team
Ivan Toney and Joe Gomez are among eight players who made the Euro 2024 squad to be left out
In his role as England interim boss, one of the key roles he will have is trying to get the best out of Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold – something Southgate was unable to accomplish.
At Euro 2024, Alexander-Arnold started the first two games in midfield, before Southgate decided to replace him.
Asked about what position suits the Liverpool vice-captain best, Carsley said: ‘For me and for this camp he will be a right-back. Modern day full backs have all round attributes that almost make them midfielders. At some point we will see TAA arriving in to that midfield area but for me I see him as a right-back.’
Carsley’s first game as interim boss will be against the Republic of Ireland on September 7, before they play Finland three days later.
He said: ‘I am really confident in the job I can do. We have a real capability in terms of being successful in the future.
‘The objective for the next England manager is to win something. I have brought in coaches I can trust. Good coaches but more importantly good people.
‘Spain have done well (by promoting U21 coach) but that doesn’t mean it’s a blueprint.’
Marcus RashfordKyle Walker
