Jack Grealish and Noni Madueke have been named in Lee Carsley’s first England squad for their Nations League double-header.
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Interim boss Carsley names first England squadGrealish returns and Madueke gets first call-upThree Lions prepare for Nations League gamesWHAT HAPPENED?
In the first England squad of the post-Gareth Southgate era, his temporary successor Carsley has recalled Grealish – after the Manchester City star was left out of their Euro 2024 group – and Chelsea winger Madueke gets a Three Lions call-up for the first time follow his hat-trick heroics at Wolves. His Blues team-mate Levi Colwill has also been selected and will look to add to his one senior cap, while Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White has been picked for the first time. Here is the squad in full for the Nations League games against the Republic and Ireland and Finland.
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Former England captain Harry Maguire also returns to the squad after missing the Euros through injury, and there are also first-time call-ups for Lille midfielder Angel Gomes and Newcastle United full-back Tino Livramento. Magpies goalkeeper Nick Pope is recalled following a long-term shoulder injury and City's Rico Lewis is back in, too. However, there is no place for injured Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, Brighton's Lewis Dunk, Brentford's Ivan Toney, Liverpool's Joe Gomez, Southampton-bound Aaron Ramsdale. Newcastle's Kieran Trippier has retired from international football while Arsenal's Ben White is again not included, and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, City's Kyle Walker, and United's Luke Shaw also are not in the 26-man squad. Incidentally.
Getty/GOALTHE POST-SOUTHGATE ERA
England are still looking for a permanent successor to Southgate, with Carsley – who guided the under-21 side to a first Under-21 European Championship crown since 1984 in July 2023 – seemingly seen as a stop-gap. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and former Chelsea boss Graham Potter are reportedly the two leading candidates for the Three Lions post but for now, Carsley is at the helm. Southgate led England to two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final, so his successor has big shoes to fill. But with this talented group of players, the next person in charge has a huge opportunity to achieve history and win a major international trophy.
WHAT NEXT?
Carsley's new-look England side take on Ireland at Aviva Stadium on September 7 in their League B Group 2 opener. They then host Finland three days later and Greece is also in their group for the Nations League.
