Southgate’s selection

England have included in-form Leicester City midfielder James Maddison in their squad for the World Cup in Qatar, with forwards Callum Wilson and Marcus Rashford also selected.

Maddison and Newcastle United striker Wilson have not played for England since 2019, but were rewarded for fine starts to the domestic season in the run-up to this month’s tournament. Manchester United’s Rashford is another to find goalscoring form this term. This persuaded England coach Gareth Southgate to bring him back into the fold, after he last appeared as a substitute in the Euro 2020 final last July.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney received his first call-up for Nations League fixtures against Italy and Germany in September, but he missed out on selection with Wilson and Rashford preferred.

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse was left out of the final 26-man list, with Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher preferred, while AS Roma striker Tammy Abraham and AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori also did not make it.

England begin their World Cup group campaign against Iran on November 21.