England squad: Bukayo Saka included despite injury; Jarrod Bowen and Ollie Watkins earn recalls for Australia and Italy matches | Football News
Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has been included in England’s squad for October’s matches against Australia and Italy despite injury concerns, while West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins earn recalls to Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Saka limped off holding his leg during Arsenal’s Champions League Group B match at French side Lens on Tuesday night with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta insisting the 22-year-old’s injury was “a worry” ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match against Man City – live on Sky Sports.
However, Saka is deemed fit enough to be included in Southgate’s plans for the friendly against Australia and the Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy, despite still being assessed by Arsenal.
Sunday 8th October 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm
“He’s still being assessed,” Southgate said. “Arsenal have got a big game this weekend and then there’s another seven days before we play Australia and 10 days before we play Italy.
“Everybody will monitor everything as we go forward.”
Bowen and Watkins recalled
Jarrod Bowen is called up to the England squad for the first time since September 2022
Meanwhile, Bowen and Watkins are recalled after impressive starts to the season for West Ham and Aston Villa respectively.
Watkins, who has scored seven goals in all competitions so far this season, has not been called up since March 2022 and returns days after Southgate watched the striker score a hat-trick in Aston Villa’s 6-1 win against Brighton.
Bowen returns to the England squad for the first time since September 2022 having scored five goals in seven league games for West Ham.
Nketiah, Colwill keep places; Stones returns from injury
Gareth Southgate has named a 26-man squad for the October double-header, with uncapped Levi Colwill and Eddie Nketiah again getting the nod.
John Stones also returns to the squad after returning from a spell on the side-lines as Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips retain their places despite ongoing questions over playing time, with Man Utd and Man City respectively.
Jordan Henderson also keeps his place after moving to Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia in the summer.
However, there was still no place for West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse despite his fine start to life in east London, while Raheem Sterling was again an absentee after Southgate overlooked the 82-cap Chelsea forward for September’s fixtures.
Ben Chilwell, Eberechi Eze and Callum Wilson were also ruled out, while Mason Mount misses out despite
returning to action with Manchester United.
England’s October squad in full
Ollie Watkins has been in fine goal scoring for for Aston Villa
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).
Defenders: Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayi Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal).
Forwards: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham), Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).
What’s coming up for England?
England’s next outing is against Australia in a friendly at Wembley on October 13 ; kick-off 7.45pm.
Their next Euro 2024 qualifier is versus Italy on Tuesday October 17; kick-off 7.45pm.
In November, they face Malta at home (November 17; kick-off 7.45pm), before a trip to North Macedonia (November 20; kick-off 7.45pm.
