Foden returns to England squad but there’s no room for Greenwood

Manchester City ’s Phil Foden was recalled to the England squad for the upcoming triple-header – but there was no room for Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood.

The pair made their debuts in September ’s Group A2 opener against Iceland in Reykjavik, where they infuriated the Football Association by breaching Uefa’s strict bio- bubble rules by meeting girls at the team hotel.

Southgate would have sent the pair home even if they had not broken coronavirus protocols, with the England manager leaving them out of O c t o b e r ’s m a t c h e s as punishment.

Foden has since scored three times in six Premier League games and was recalled by Southgate as the Three Lions face the Republic of Ireland in a Wembley friendly next Thursday, before heading to Belgium and welcoming Iceland to London as their Nations L eague group reaches a conclusion.

Greenwood, however, remains out in the cold with the 19-year-old once again missing the cut.

Gareth Bale has returned to a Wales squad selected by absent manager Ryan Giggs.

Skipper Bale missed Wa l e s ’ October games against England, the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria with a knee injury which delayed his Tottenham debut following his season-long loan move from Real Madrid.

But Bale is back in a 29-man squad which was selected by Giggs before his arrest two days ago on suspicion of assaulting a woman on Sunday night, thought to be his girlfriend.