England need one point from games against Montenegro and Kosovo to qualify for Euro 2020
Thursday 7 November 2019 18:57, UK
Callum Hudson-Odoi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been recalled to the England squad, but there is no place for Jack Grealish.
Gareth Southgate has also decided against recalling Kyle Walker, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard and Eric Dier for the European Qualifiers against Montenegro and Kosovo.
Michael Keane has been dropped despite starting three of England's last four matches, with John Stones taking his place after returning to fitness.
Hudson-Odoi returns to the squad for the first time since March after overcoming his Achilles injury. He has a goal and four assists for Chelsea after making his comeback in September.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has also fought his way back from serious injury - a combination of knee and hamstring problems have restricted him to just one England cap in the last 18 months.
However, he has played 13 times for Liverpool this season and a number of impressive goals - including two in the 4-1 win in Genk last month - have helped to win him back his place.
"It's not a case of reward," said Southgate. "We have a huge belief in him. That's why we brought him back a little bit earlier than we might have done in September.
"I felt in October, he had the message from us that we had faith in him, he just needed to go away and get playing more regularly so that he was coming into us ready to play."
There is no place for Grealish though, despite his impressive form for Aston Villa since their return to the Premier League.
He has contributed to eight goals in 12 games in all competitions this season, but the 24-year-old is still yet to make his England debut.
"He's a very good player," said Southgate. "I've watched him closely this season.
"The reality of that is that he's up against [Raheem] Sterling, [Marcus] Rashford, Hudson-Odoi, [Jadon] Sancho in those wide areas.
"I know he can play as a No 8 but that's not where Villa have played him in the last six or seven weeks when they've been getting their results. So, the competition in that area is a really high level.
"I've worked with him with the U21s, so I know all about him. He's very close. He's just got to keep playing the way he is, and if we had issues over the weekend, I wouldn't hesitate to call him into the squad."
Elsewhere, James Maddison retains his place even though he was warned by Southgate last month after being pictured gambling in a casino after dropping out of the squad with illness.
Mason Mount could add to his four caps after being called-up, easing fitness concerns after he limped out of Chelsea's 4-4 draw with Ajax on Tuesday with an ankle injury.
His Chelsea team-mates Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori keep their places after being called-up last month following their impressive form under Frank Lampard.
Tyrone Mings, who was the subject of racist abuse from Bulgaria fans during his England debut in Sofia last month, is retained, as is Joe Gomez, despite falling down the pecking order at Liverpool.
However, there is no place for Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has not returned to the squad since withdrawing with injury in September.
England host Montenegro on November 14 and travel to Kosovo on November 17. Southgate's side require just one point from the two games to qualify for Euro 2020.
Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton (Aston Villa), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley)
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Leicester), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Danny Rose (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (Chelsea), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid)
Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Chelsea), Fabian Delph (Everton), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), James Maddison (Leicester), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool), Declan Rice (West Ham), Harry Winks (Tottenham)
Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Chelsea), Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
A bumper 27-man squad - yet still no room for Jack Grealish.
Is this a reflection of the strength in depth Gareth Southgate has at his disposal, or a message more is needed from the Aston Villa midfielder? In this case, it's both.
Southgate sees Grealish as a wide player in a front three. Here, the England manager has an envious roll call of talent; Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and the returning Callum Hudson-Odoi. That's without mentioning Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who offers versatility as either a midfielder or forward.
However, Southgate clearly thinks Grealish can force his way into that quintet - and gave encouragement with his comments on Thursday.
Plus, with concerns over Mason Mount's ankle injury and Ross Barkley only just returning to fitness, a space may open up for Grealish at St George's Park next week.
While it's a case of not-quite-yet for Grealish, there was a show of support for James Maddison.
But that came with a caveat.
Having been sent home from England duty due to illness, Maddison was criticised after being photographed in a casino during England's defeat to the Czech Republic.
The FA have made it clear the Leicester player was on his own free time, but Southgate has insisted it was an incident Maddison must learn from.
While Maddison's senior England career is about to begin, has Kyle Walker's come to an end? Not so, said Southgate, but after his third consecutive omission the Manchester City defender must be wondering what he can do to earn a recall.
