NONI MADUEKE, Morgan Gibbs-White, Tino Livramento and Angel Gomes received their maiden senior England call-ups today, but Kyle Walker was conspicuous by his absence from interim boss Lee Carsley’s first squad.
Carsley has temporarily stepped up from his role as England Under-21s boss after Gareth Southgate left following July’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain.
Walker served as vice-captain in Germany and was an eye-catching omission from a squad for the Nations League doubleheader against the Republic of Ireland and Finland that saw Carsley call up a number of the young players.
Uncapped Madueke, Gibbs-White, Livramento and Gomes have been included, while Harry Maguire and Jack Grealish return having been left out of the final Euro 2024 squad.
Jude Bellingham and Luke Shaw missed out through injury, while Kieran Trippier announced his international retirement.
Ben White, who turned down a call-up in March, remained absent despite the change in coaching staff.
There was no place for Euro 2024 squad members Ivan Toney, Aaron Ramsdale, Joe Gomez, Lewis Dunk and Adam Wharton.
Carsley was keen to put his own stamp on the squad after replacing Southgate.
“I think it is a real proud moment obviously for my family and myself,” Carsley said.
“It has been a really hectic couple of weeks getting my head around the magnitude of the job, getting around to see as many matches as I can.
“I think it is fair to say the job that Gareth and Steve [Holland] did and the position I am picking the squad up is totally different to when they picked it up.
“I understand I am in a really privileged position and I am excited to meet up with the players.
“I thought it was important we put some fresh faces in and put our mark on the squad.”
Carsley suggested Walker’s absence was down to his lack of minutes for Manchester City since a busy summer with England, while he was glad to bring Manchester United centre-back Maguire back into the reckoning.
Carsley is confident Nottingham Forest’s Gibbs-White and Lille’s Gomes can make the step up to the senior squad’s midfield after impressing him for the under-21s.
“Morgan is a very attacking player, full of energy, very creative, very exciting,” Carsley said.
“He has been really successful with England and I thought that was important. A lot of the players we’ve called in are used to winning.
“Angel is very technical, he controls the game with his kill and his technique. He is very determined, has a great attitude and loves football. I think he is a player people will be excited to see.”
