England Recall Tomori For World Cup Qualifiers

Fikayo Tomori has been handed an England recall by Gareth Southgate after Harry Maguire was ruled out through injury.

Ollie Watkins is back in the squad in place of Patrick Bamford, who made his international debut last month.

England are set for two World Cup qualifiers away to Andorra on October 9 and at home to Hungary three days later.

United captain Maguire has a calf injury and went off midway through the second-half in their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa last Saturday. His manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he will be out for ‘a few weeks’.

Right-back Alexander-Arnold has a groin injury and didn’t travel with Liverpool to Porto for their Champions League match in midweek.

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Chelsea wing-back James has an ankle injury and limped off during their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend but is included for the international double-header.

Southgate had said prior to the squad announcement he would ease Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez back into the international scene after he returned to action following 10 months out with a serious knee injury.

Maguire’s absence compounds Southgate’s central defensive issues with John Stones, another first choice, yet to play a single minute for Manchester City this season.

But Stones does make the squad and could partner Tomori, Conor Coady or Tyrone Mings.

Leeds United forward Bamford was given a chance to impress in last month’s World Cup qualifiers against Hungary, Andorra and Poland but doesn’t make it this time with Watkins coming back in.

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale gets a call-up and Manchester City’s Phil Foden is back in after missing last month’s games through injury.

There’s no Jude Bellingham either despite a good start to the season with Borussia Dortmund but Chelsea’s Mason Mount is in despite recent injury issues.

England are in control of Group I with four matches left to play. They lead Albania by four points and are five ahead of Poland. Southgate’s men need eight points from their remaining four games to be assured of a place in Qatar.

England squad in full

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (West Bromwich Albion), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Reece James (Chelsea), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds United), Declan Rice (West Ham United)

Forwards: Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Jadon Sancho (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

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