Ivan Toney named in the England squad

Gareth Southgate has announced the England squad for the final games before the winter World Cup with Ivan Toney included.

The Three Lions return to Nations League action where they are without a win in four games of Group 3 – including two defeats to Hungary.

England will face Italy on the 23rd of September at the San Siro in Milan before hosting Germany at Wembley on the 26th of September with victories needed to avoid relegation.

Ivan Toney earns his first-ever call-up after a stellar start to the new campaign. The Brentford striker has scored five goals and made three assists in seven games so far this season.

Marcus Rashford is absent due to an injury picked up against Arsenal, with the Manchester United man not a part of the travelling squad in Moldova ahead of this evening’s Europa League game with Sheriff. There is also no place in the squad for Rashford’s club teammate Jadon Sancho but Luke Shaw keeps his place despite not being a regular starter under Erik ten Hag.

Jarrod Bowen of West Ham United and Marc Guehi of Crystal Palace have also kept their place in the squad that includes Tammy Abraham, Eric Dier, and Fikayo Tomori.

Gareth Southgate will make his final World Cup selection ahead of the tournament in November.

Gareth Southgate has named a 28-man squad for our #ThreeLions' upcoming games against Italy and Germany:

— England (@England) September 15, 2022