- Henderson, Maguire and Phillips in squad
- Call ups for Nketiah and Colwill
- No place for Sterling or Pope
England manager Gareth Southgate has named his squad for the forthcoming September fixtures against Ukraine and Scotland. Southgate has included midfielder Jordan Henderson, who recently departed Liverpool for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq.
Harry Maguire is also selected, despite the fact that the Manchester United centre-back has yet to make an appearance for his club this season. Southgate seems to have confidence in Maguire’s ability and is willing to give him the opportunity to represent the national team.
Another player to be included without appearing for his club this season is Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips. This suggests that Southgate values Phillips’ abilities and believes he can make a valuable contribution to the national team.
A feature of Southgate’s management during his time with the national team has been loyalty and he clearly values the qualities of the three players concerned and, the experience and leadership that both Henderson and Maguire bring.
England to face Ukraine and Scotland
The upcoming matches are significant for England, as they face Ukraine in a Euro 2024 qualifier on 9th September in Poland. Following this, they will play Scotland in a friendly on 12th September at Hampden Park, marking the 150th anniversary of this historic fixture.
Southgate has also introduced fresh faces to the squad. Arsenal’s young striker Eddie Nketiah and Chelsea’s emerging centre-back Levi Colwill have received their first call-ups. This demonstrates Southgate’s commitment to nurturing new talent and building for the future.
Raheem Sterling has again been left out of the squad. This marks his exclusion from the last two England squads, raising questions about his international future. There is also no place for Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Injuries have also impacted Southgate’s squad selection. Defenders Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, and John Stones are sidelined due to injuries, which has forced Southgate to explore other options. In response, he has recalled Ben Chilwell and Fikayo Tomori to bolster the defensive line.
One intriguing development is the positional change for Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Liverpool right-back has been listed as a midfielder, a tactical shift that may have been influenced by his previous performances in that role for the national team.
Betting Implications
With the Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine and the historic friendly against Scotland on the horizon, England will hope for two positive results. They will look towards making an impact in the Euros next summer after recent positive performances at major tournaments.
Those looking to bet on England in the forthcoming matches or in terms of tournament outrights need to look how the new players perform, how Alexander-Arnold settles into a midfield role. They must decide whether they feel Southgate is showing too much loyalty to his trusted players and whether this could affect results.
