Tomori, Watkins & Ramsdale back in England squad for double-header
Fikayo Tomori, Ollie Watkins and Aaron Ramsdale returned to the England squad as Harry Maguire and Trent Alexander-Arnold missed the World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary through injury.
The Three Lions sit top of GroupIheadingintothepenultimate international camp of the year, with manager Gareth Southgatenaminga23-manselection for the double-header.
AC Milan defender Tomori hasbeenincludedinthesquad nearly two years on from winning his first and only cap in Kosovo – the Three Lions’ final matchbeforethepandemicled football to shut down.
Watkinsreturnsforthefirst time since being cut from the provisional Euro 2020 squad, withuncappedRamsdaleback having been brought into the squadthatreachedthefinalfollowing an injury to Dean Henderson.
Maguire, Alexander-Arnold and Patrick Bamford dropped out of the group for next month’s internationals through injury, while Ramsdale’s call-up meant there was no place for Nick Pope.
Phil Foden returned after missing the September tripleheader through a foot complaint, but Jude Bellingham and Mason Greenwood were both rested.
Since earning his sole England cap to date, 23-year-old Tomori has left Chelsea for Milan, initially on loan before completingapermanentmove this summer.
“I thought he finished last season well,” Southgate said. “He’s playing at a club where there’s an expectation to win every week so he’s performing under pressure.
“I like Fikayo in terms of his aggressiveness as a defender.
Becausehe’sgotspeedhe’sconfident enough to defend on the frontfootandhisuseoftheball is improving all the time.”
Ramsdale, 23, is another player to have taken a step up atclublevelfollowinghismove to Arsenal this summer.
“From Aaron’s perspective, the move to a bigger club with higher expectations and astyleofplaywhereheisasked to build with his feet from the back, he’s coping really well,”
Southgate said.
“I think that’s an important factor for us when looking at the biggest matches, having a goalkeeper who has really adapted well to a move and is full of confidence.”
Bellingham and Greenwood are both absent despite strong recent performances at club level, with Southgate saying the workloads of the teenagers must be carefully managed.