Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham recalled for England World Cup qualifiers
Last updated on .From the section England
Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham have been recalled to the England squad for this month's World Cup qualifiers with Albania and San Marino.
There is no place in the squad for Rashford's Manchester United team-mates Jadon Sancho and Jesse Lingard.
England play Albania at Wembley on 12 November before rounding off their qualifying campaign away to San Marino on 15 November.
They require four points from those games to qualify for Qatar 2022.
Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, who last played for the Three Lions on 5 September, also returns to the squad.
Forward Rashford has not played for England since the Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy in July.
He returned to club action on 16 October after shoulder surgery and has scored three goals in five appearances.
Lingard and Sancho both made the last squad but both have experienced issues with lack of form and game time.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Bellingham, 18, was left out of the squad for last month's qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary.
Harry Maguire, Reece James and Kalvin Phillips also return, with Kieran Trippier, Fikayo Tomori and Ollie Watkins dropping out.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Chilwell, Conor Coady, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kyle Walker
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse
Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling
Strong competition for places
Gareth Southgate said there was strong competition for places, with England Under-21 squad members Emile Smith Rowe, Conor Gallagher and Marc Guehi pushing for a place in the senior set-up.
Asked about the omissions of Sancho and Lingard, he added both understood they needed to "get back playing and playing well".
"If you're playing regularly for your club you have a better chance for us to assess your football," he added.
Sancho has made three Premier League starts since his high-profile move from Borussia Dortmund in the summer, while Lingard has yet to start a top-flight match since returning from a loan at West Ham.
The England boss said Atletico Madrid's Trippier had not been selected this time "to give a bit of an opportunity to Reece and to Trent".
Southgate was speaking for the first time since the Football Association was ordered to stage their next home match in Uefa competition - which will be in the Nations League in June - behind closed doors as punishment for the disorder around the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.
"We understand the decision and we're totally respectful of the decision," he said.
"It is for us as a team of course a blow that we have to play with no fans in the stadium for a game because that's the advantage of being at home - that's why home advantage is so important."
Analysis
BBC Sport chief football writer Phil McNulty
Jadon Sancho's frustrating start to his Manchester United career following his £73m move from Borussia Dortmund has suffered another setback as he is dropped from England's squad.
The 21-year-old has been a peripheral figure at Old Trafford and has been pushed even further to the margins by the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo. He has consequently struggled for game time, which has cost him his England place.
Gareth Southgate clearly feels he has enough weaponry in the wide positions with players such as Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, leaving Sancho with a fight on his hands to play for both club and country.
There has been a lot of support for in-form Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale to push Everton's Jordan Pickford for the number one slot but the latter is trusted by Southgate and has never let England down so it would be a major surprise to see any change in that position.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - follow your team and sign up for notifications in the BBC Sport app to make sure you never miss a moment
Comments
Join the conversation
I'd bring back Loftus-Cheek and try Smith-Rowe
Maybe his back is sore from carrying Arsenal the last few games??