Ivan Toney has been welcomed back into the England squad alongside Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones. This marks his first return since his transfer to the Saudi Pro League and is the headline news from Thomas Tuchel’s squad announcement.
England manager Tuchel has also selected Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah for the upcoming matches against Andorra and Senegal. The German gaffer was a big admirer of Chalobah during his tenure at Chelsea and even had him on his wish list at Bayern Munich.
Despite only one of England’s forthcoming fixtures being a World Cup qualifier, Tuchel was adamant about assembling a robust squad, offering no break for some of the Three Lions’ top stars who are nearing the end of their demanding domestic seasons.
The inclusion of 29 year old Toney is bound to turn heads. The ex-Brentford ace hasn’t been picked since Euro 2024 after agreeing to a move to the Saudi Pro League with Al Ahli, who clinched the Asian Champions League last month.
Toney, who has netted 29 goals in 43 appearances for Al Ahli, could add to his tally of six England caps when the team head to Barcelona to take on Andorra on June 7, followed by a home game against Senegal at Wembley three days later, reports the Mirror.
Jude Bellingham has also made the cut for the 26-man squad, despite worries over a shoulder injury. It’s believed he will undergo surgery after playing for Real Madrid in the Club World Cup, which kicks off just days after England’s clash with Senegal.
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Jordan Henderson maintains his spot in the squad after being brought back by Tuchel for England’s previous matches in the Spring, with Harry Kane set to lead the Three Lions following his inaugural trophy win with Bayern Munich.
The most notable omission is arguably Phil Foden; the Manchester City ace requested to be excluded from the squad for England’s forthcoming fixtures to concentrate on his mental health and fitness after a taxing season.
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Full England squad:
GOALKEEPERS: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Burnley).
DEFENDERS: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kyle Walker (AC Milan).
MIDFIELDERS: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa).
FORWARDS: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
