30th September, 2021
AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori has been recalled to the England squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary.
Tomori would be replacing injured Harry Maguire in the squad after his impressive performance since he joined the Serie A side.
The defender has appeared only once for the three lions and that was November 2019.
England manager Gareth Southgate said he has been impressed with how the 23-year-old has adapted to life in Italy.
“I thought he finished last season well,” he said. “He’s playing at a club where there’s an expectation to win every week, so he’s performing under pressure.
“I like Fikayo in terms of his aggressiveness as a defender. Because he’s got speed, he’s confident enough to defend on the front foot and his use of the ball is improving all the time.”
Also, Southgate recalled Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins and Manchester City youngster Phil Foden.
Foden has been absent from the national team since Euro 2020 after recovering from an injury that ruled him out of the September international break.
Notable absentees in the team are Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham and Leeds forward Patrick Bamford who has scored just one goal in six club appearances this season.
England will first travel to Andorra on 9 October, before hosting Hungary three days later.
Southgate’s team lead the qualifying group, with Albania so far providing the closest competition four points back, having won five of their six games so far.
England only dropped points in the qualifiers against Poland where they finished 1-1.
Full list of England players
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Defenders: Conor Coady (Wolves), Reece James (Chelsea), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Man City)
Midfielders: Phil Foden (Man City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Man Utd), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Declan Rice (West Ham)
Forwards: Jack Grealish (Man City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)