England Recall Saka While Jude Bellingham, Foden & Jack Grealish Are Left Out
The Arsenal forward has recorded 12 goals in 44 games for England.
England have included the Arsenal winger for upcoming matches against Latvia and Wales, yet there's no spot for Jude Bellingham, Foden or Jack Grealish.
Arsenal forward Saka was absent from last month's qualifier victories over Andorra and Serbia due to a hamstring injury.
Saka made a comeback for Arsenal and found the net in their victory over the Greek side midweek.
The England international replaces club colleague Noni Madueke, who is out of action till next month with a knee problem.
England meet Wales in a friendly at Wembley this week prior to a World Cup qualifier in Latvia on 14 October.
Should England triumph in Latvia, they will need a just two more points from their last two qualifiers versus Serbia and Albania in the next month to reach the World Cup in North America.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah replaces Newcastle United’s Livramento, who is sidelined for two months following sustaining a knee injury versus the Gunners recently.
Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence, who received their maiden national team selections previously, keep their spots. Loftus-Cheek also remains in the squad, even with the recovery of Wharton.
Saka has featured in just a single match for the manager since taking over as national team boss, due to injury concerns.
Bellingham missed the previous squad as he recovered from a shoulder operation and has only made one start for Real Madrid since returning from injury.
The Manchester City player was omitted from the coach’s last England squad following a loss of form and has been unsuccessful in returning, despite a impressive beginning to the season with City.
Grealish also misses out despite a revival in form on loan at Everton. He has not featured for England since October 2024.
Full England Selection
Keepers: Dean Henderson (Palace), Pickford (the Toffees), James Trafford (City)
Backline: Dan Burn (Newcastle United), Guehi (Crystal Palace), James (Chelsea), Konsa (Villa), Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Spurs), John Stones (City)
Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Gibbs-White (Forest), Henderson (the Bees), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Milan), Rice (the Gunners), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
Forwards: Bowen (West Ham United), Eze (Arsenal), Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern), Rashford (Barcelona), Saka (the Gunners), Watkins (Villa)
'Attention turns to excluded players'
Thomas Tuchel's new selection draws attention to the players the head coach has left out rather than the included names.
Bellingham’s exclusion may raise some eyebrows but the coach understandably feels there is no need to recall the Real Madrid star.
Manchester City's Phil Foden and loanee Grealish have both performed well in the early stages of the season.
Those who the manager used in England's World Cup qualifier wins against Andorra and Serbia deserve the reward of continuity.
There will be disappointment that Arsenal's Noni Madueke is not involved due to a fitness issue.
The Forest player has looked right at home at England senior level.
Tuchel is a fan of Grealish, in particular, as well as the City star.
One unexpected move, it is the exclusion of Palace’s Wharton.
The star, of course, will be required in the future.
