Soccer

Patrick Bamford receives his first England senior call-up

No place in the squad for Mason Greenwood despite impressive start to the season

Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has been included in the latest England squad. Photograph: Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Jacob Steinberg
Thu Aug 26 2021 - 15:27

Leeds United's Patrick Bamford has received his first England senior call-up as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jesse Lingard returned to international duty for the World Cup qualifiers next month against Poland, Andorra and Hungary.

There is no place in the squad for Mason Greenwood, however, despite the Manchester United forward's impressive start to the season.

Alexander-Arnold was left devastated after missing out on Euro 2020 after sustaining a thigh injury during the build-up to the tournament. The Liverpool defender had made it into Gareth Southgate's squad despite being left dropped by the manager in March and he will be involved when England meet for the first time since their defeat against Italy in the European Championship final.

Alexander-Arnold is one of four right-backs in the squad, with Kyle Walker, Reece James and Kieran Trippier also included by Southgate. However there is no place for the Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell. Bamford is the only uncapped player in the squad after impressing for Leeds since their return to the Premier League.

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Greenwood also missed out on a place at the Euro 2020 finals through injury. The United forward has scored twice this season and had a chance of a recall, with Marcus Rashford ruled out. The Aston Villa strikers Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins, and the Roma forward Tammy Abraham, have also missed out up front. The England captain, Harry Kane, is in the squad after seeing his hopes of leaving Tottenham for Manchester City collapse.

There are places in the squad for Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho, both of whom missed penalties in the shootout defeat against Italy. Nick Pope, the Burnley goalkeeper, has also come in for United's Dean Henderson, who has a hip injury.

Southgate explained the process he went through with his coaches after the defeat against Italy. “We were into the office the following week reviewing the whole tournament. Of course the final was fresh in everyone’s mind, but you have to review everything,” he said.

“I was in touch with all three of them [Saka, Rashford and Sancho] the days after the final and their clubs were in touch as well. They know there is support if they need it, but they are also keen to move on. It is a fresh season with fresh challenges. They are exciting young players with an exciting time ahead of them.”

England visit Hungary on September 2nd and host Andorra on September 5th before finishing the camp with a trip to Poland on September 8th. - Guardian

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