England squad announcement: Gareth Southgate names team for Spain and Switzerland matches

England fans up and down the country got behind their country throughout the summer as Gareth Southgate led his country to their best performance at a World Cup since 1990.

And the national team return to action next week in the first international break of the season.

They face a UEFA Nations League match against Spain (September 8th) before facing Switzerland in a friendly.

This will be a much changed England squad to the one that featured at the 2018 World Cup with Gary Cahill, Ashley Young and Jamie Vardy not being included.

Jadon Sancho, Ben Chigwell and Alfie Mawson were all touted for possible call-ups but Southgate deemed it too early to include the young England stars.

Joe Gomez returns to the England fold after missing the World Cup through injury while Alex McCarthy has been drafted in as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Jordan Pickford and Jack Butland.

Adam Lallana is the most notable inclusion in the midfield having hardly featured for Liverpool so far this season.

And Southgate has opted to take just three striker with him to face both Spain and Switzerland, opting against replacing Vardy.

England squad

Goalkeepers:

Jack Butland (Stoke City), Alex McCarthy (Southampton), Jordan Pickford (Everton)

Defenders:

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

Midfielders:

Dele (Tottenham Hotspur), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City),

Forwards:

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United),  Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

 

This will be England’s first test ahead of the 2020 European Championships and Southgate believes the majority of this squad will likely be involved in that tournament.

“When you look at the squad I have named, all of that squad should be available in two years time,” Southgate said.

“We only have 20 matches between now and the European Championship.

“We don’t want to waste time looking at new things.

“We have to continue to progress but we are working off a slid foundation this time.

“Adam is one who would have been with us were he fully fit in the summer.”