Arsenal forward Smith Rowe is promoted to England’s senior squad

Arsenal forward Emile Smith Rowe has received his first senior England call-up for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and San Marino.

Smith Rowe had been scheduled to join up with England's Under-21s, but instead met up with Gareth Southgate's senior squad at St George's Park on Monday.

The 21-year-old has been in impressive form for Arsenal this season, appearing in all their Premier League games and scoring in his third successive top-flight match in Sunday's 1-0 home win against Watford.

Manchester United pair Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw, Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse and Chelsea's Mason Mount did not report for England duty.

Rashford is focusing on regaining full fitness following his recent return from shoulder surgery and Shaw is recovering from concussion sustained in Saturday's Manchester derby defeat.

Ward-Prowse is ruled out through illness and Mount will be monitored by Southgate and his staff after undergoing dental surgery.

Southgate will begin preparation for Friday's home fixture against Albania and the following qualifier in San Marino on Monday with just 22 players.

The Three Lions are in pole position to qualify for the Qatar 2022 finals, three points clear of closest group rivals Poland with two games to play.

Four points from their final two qualifiers will guarantee England's qualification.

Smith-Rowe’s Arsenal teammate Ainsley Maitland-Niles, meanwhile, is looking forward rather than back after starring in the weekend win over Watford following a summer which saw him angle for a move away from the Emirates.

"All I wanna do is go where I'm wanted and where I'm gonna play," he wrote on Instagram, accompanied with three crying emojis, amid talk of a loan move to Everton.

Asked about his happiness compared to the summer, Maitland-Niles replied: "That's all in the past now.

"I am just thinking about the future and what's ahead of me. It was great to be out there today, getting my minutes, and hopefully there is more to come."

On Arsenal’s form he added: "We have got to be realistic, we don't want to slip back into our old ways. We just need to grow in confidence and compete in every game."