Gareth Southgate considers recalling Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood to England squad

[ASFN Admin]

Gareth Southgate is considering including Mason Greenwood and Phil Foden in the England squad for the forthcoming triple header. The England manager has also been debating a recall for Luke Shaw, given the dearth of options at left-back, while Reece James’s place is in doubt after it was confirmed he will be suspended for the Nations League qualifiers against Iceland and Belgium following his sending off in the defeat to Denmark. James, who was England’s best player in the game, was shown a red card for dissent after the final whistle and is therefore only eligible to play in the first of the three games, the friendly against the Republic of Ireland. Harry Maguire will also be ruled out of England’s must-win fixture away to Belgium after his dismissal against Denmark while Southgate is missing both Kalvin Phillips and Danny Ings through injury. The good news for Southgate is that he expects to include Raheem Sterling, who withdrew from the last squad with a minor hamstring injury, while his biggest decision is whether to recall Foden and Greenwood, which is in leaning towards doing. The pair were sent home in disgrace after making their debuts against Iceland for breaching the strict coronavirus bio-bubble rules by meeting women at the team hotel. Southgate would have sent the pair home even if they had not broken coronavirus protocols, with the England manager leaving them out of October's matches as punishment.

Continue reading...