Ivan Toney named in England squad for first time for Nations League video games in opposition to Italy and Germany

Brentford’s Ivan Toney has been handed his first England call-up by Gareth Southgate for the Nations League video games in opposition to Italy and Germany later this month.

Toney, who has scored 13 Premier League objectives since January, has been referred to as up following doubts over Marcus Rashford’s health.

The 24-year-old Manchester United ahead remains to be feeling the consequences of an damage picked up within the 3-1 Premier League victory over Arsenal on September 4, when he scored twice to take his season’s tally to 3.

Having sat out United’s opening Europa League recreation, a 1-0 residence defeat to Real Sociedad, Rashford will once more be lacking for his or her second group recreation away to Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday.

Toney, 26, has scored 17 top-flight objectives and registered six assists in 39 appearances for the Bees because the begin of final season, and scored a 28-minute hat-trick within the thrilling 5-2 win at residence to Leeds on September 3.

He has not been capped by England at any youth age group and was reportedly courted by the Jamaican Football Federation final 12 months in an try to influence him to declare his allegiance to them.

There isn’t any place within the squad for Rashford’s Manchester United team-mate Jadon Sancho both, regardless of his spectacular begin to the season below Erik ten Hag.

The 22-year-old has scored twice in six Premier League appearances this time period, however final featured on the worldwide stage when he performed 72 minutes of England’s 5-0 World Cup qualifying win over Andorra on October 9 2021.

Meanwhile, Tottenham’s Eric Dier, who has not earned a world cap since November 2020, has been recalled to the squad to bolster Southgate’s defensive choices.

England face Italy away on Friday September 23 at 7.45pm, earlier than internet hosting Germany on Monday September 26 at 7.45pm.

England’s 28-man squad in full

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale.

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Chilwell, Conor Coady, Eric Dier, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker.

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse.

Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Ivan Toney.

‘Penalty king Toney has greater than justified his inclusion’

Sky Sports’ Dan Long:

“It has been 83 long years since a Brentford player last won a senior England cap. There are precious few Bees fans still with us who will have been alive when Les Smith made a substitute appearance against Romania on May 24 1939, less than four months before the outbreak of World War Two. Even fewer, if any, will remember the occasion.

“But that close to century-long wait is prone to quickly come to an finish.

“It is a more than justified inclusion for 26-year-old striker Toney, who was playing in League One just four seasons ago. Before his move from Peterborough to west London, he made it abundantly clear that he was so confident in his ability that he could step up to the Premier League. The claim was scoffed at by many.

“In 2021/22 – the Bees’ first top-flight season since 1946/47 – he led the road admirably, with 17 aim involvements in 33 league appearances and he has began this marketing campaign with an added spring in his step, with 5 objectives from simply six pictures on track – together with an outstanding hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Leeds – and one other two assists.

“He is not afraid to get stuck in elsewhere on the pitch, which often goes unnoticed. He is often a key presence when Brentford defend set-pieces, has won 20 aerial challenges so far and attempted six crosses. There is a certain selflessness to his game.

“But what is most interesting, from an England perspective, is Toney’s penalty record. He has been Brentford’s first-choice spot-kick taker ever since joining the club and he has scored every single one of the 18 he has taken. Back in March, Bees head coach Thomas Frank said he is the ‘best penalty taker in the world at this moment in time’

“Toney has usually been, lazily, dubbed a penalty service provider and nothing extra. But as has been the case up to now, he has had the final snort.”

The case for the defence…

Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:

“One huge space of concern for Gareth Southgate would be the personnel and construction of his defence in Qatar. Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw performed each minute of England’s knockout video games at their run to the Euro 2020 ultimate. Having such a constant staff choice in a aspect that base their recreation round being strong down the centre of the pitch was an enormous assist for Southgate within the large moments of that match.

“Now that area of the pitch looks brittle.

“Walker is in the latest squad but missed Manchester City’s Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund with an injury whilst Maguire and Shaw have played just 324 minutes of Premier League football between them this season with both losing their first team spots to new signings in the Erik ten Hag era.

“Stones has began the final three Premier League matches for City at centre-back however was moved out to right-back within the absence of Walker within the midweek conflict with Dortmund.

“So, what does Southgate do in these two pivotal games before departing for the World Cup? Does he stay loyal and use the opportunity as a way of getting 90 minutes into the legs of Maguire and Shaw or try something new?

“Eric Dier has grow to be an absolute mainstay of Antonio Conte’s Tottenham aspect taking part in because the central determine in a again three – a formation Southgate has repeatedly utilized in large video games for England. Meanwhile, the type of Fikayo Tomori and Marc Guehi cannot be ignored, particularly if Maguire is deemed too rusty to be relied upon at worldwide degree.

“There is so much for the England boss to ponder. Not ideal with a tournament that England are expected to go deep in just around the corner.”

England’s World Cup group B fixtures

November 21: Iran (Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan) – kick-off 1pm

November 25: USA (Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor) – kick-off 7pm

November 29: Wales (Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan) – kick-off 7pm

Pick your England beginning XI for World Cup 2022

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What would your England beginning XI appear like if the World Cup began right now and all gamers have been accessible? Use our interactive selector to choose your staff under, screenshot your picks and share on Twitter @SkyFootball.