Jordan Henderson called up to replace Kalvin Phillips in England squad
Kalvin Phillips has been a regular with England but Gareth Southgate has found experienced back-up after re-calling Liverpool’s captain.
England boss Gareth Southgate has summoned Jordan Henderson to bolster his midfield after losing shoulder injury victim Kalvin Phillips. Manager Southgate is waiting to learn whether Phillips will be fit for the World Cup after Manchester City decided their close-season recruit from Leeds requires surgery to remedy a shoulder problem.
It means Euro 2020 runners-up England may be without a key man for the Qatar 2022 finals, although they will be holding out hope Phillips can return and prove his fitness before the tournament. He has become a Southgate favourite in a deep-lying midfield role, joining Declan Rice in front of the back four. For now, seasoned midfielder Henderson returns to the fray, with the 32-year-old Liverpool captain boasting 69 caps and considerable big-tournament experience, having been prominent in England’s run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
Nations League tests
England are on Nations League duty at present, battling to avoid relegation from the top tier of that competition. They travel to face Italy in Group A3 on Friday, followed by a clash with Germany at Wembley on Monday.
News of Phillips’ prospects for the World Cup could soon become clear, with the outcome of his operation likely to offer pointers to whether he could be on the plane to Qatar in November. City manager Pep Guardiola offered hope for Phillips and England at the weekend, saying that “in a good way he could arrive at the World Cup”.
Among the 28-man squad is a first England call-up at any level for Brentford striker Ivan Toney, while there is also a return to the squad for Spurs defender Eric Dier.
Full England squad
Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Nottingham Forest - on loan from Manchester United), Nick Pope (Newcastle United), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).
Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Everton -on loan from Wolves), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).
Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Roma), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Ivan Toney (Brentford).