Nigeria’s faint hopes of luring Chelsea star, Noni Madueke, to switch allegiance to the Super Eagles was extinguished, yesterday when England’s interim Manager, Lee Carsly named the midfielder in his squad for the Three Lions coming internationals.
In his first squad since being named England interim manager, Carsley chose Madueke in a squad filled with youngsters as the Three Lions gears up for Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland.
Among the new stars in the England setup are some of the players who featured for England’s U-20 team under Carsley. They include Lille winger, Gomes; Newcastle defender, Livramento; Nottingham Forest midfielder, Gibbs-White, and Madueke.
Manchester City playmaker Jack Grealish, who was cut from England’s preliminary Euro 2024 squad, has been recalled, as well as Manchester United defender Harry Maguire.
England take on the Republic of Ireland in Dublin, on September 7, and Finland at Wembley, on September 10, in the Nations League. Carsley was appointed to the role following Gareth Southgate’s resignation after Euro 2024.
Carsley, who played for the Republic of Ireland, spent three years as England’s Under-21s boss after his appointment in 2021.
Six members of Carsley’s first squad – Gomes, Madueke, Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, and Levi Colwill – won the Under-21 European Championship under him in 2023.
Gomes, 23, left Manchester United for Lille in 2020. At United, he broke into the first team in 2017, aged 16 years 263 days, the youngest player to make his debut from the club since Duncan Edwards in 1953.
“Angel is very technical, he controls the game with his skill and his technique. He is very determined, has a great attitude, and loves football,” Carsley said.“I think he is a player people will be excited to see.”
Arsenal defender Ben White, who earned the last of his four caps in March 2022, was again left out of the squad after making himself unavailable for selection.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney, Manchester City defender Kyle Walker and Arsenal goalkeeper, Aaron Ramsdale, who all went to Euro 2024, have also been left out of the 26-man squad.
Manchester United defender Luke Shaw and Real Madrid midfielder, Jude Bellingham both miss out through injury, while United forward Marcus Rashford, Tottenham midfielder James Maddison and Crystal Palace youngster Adam Wharton failed to make the squad.
Newcastle United full-back Kieran Trippier, who played 54 times under Southgate, announced his retirement from international football yesterday.
The goalkeepers in the squad are Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton) and Nick Pope (Newcastle United), whule the defenders are Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Manchester City), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Rico Lewis (Manchester City), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), and Harry Maguire (Manchester United).
The midfielders are Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Angel Gomes (Lille), and Phil Foden (Manchester City), while Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Chelsea) Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), and Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) make up the forwards.
