England team news: Southgate calls up four uncapped players

 

Gareth Southgate has called on the services of four uncapped players for England's upcoming friendlies against Holland and Italy, the Football Association has confirmed.

 

England will warm up for the 2018 World Cup with two glamour tie friendlies at the end of the month and Southgate is keen to use both matches to get a look at some players with outside chances of making the plane to Russia.

 

Burnley duo Nick Pope and James Tarkowski, Swansea defender Alfie Mawson and Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook have all been included by the Three Lions boss and will be looking to impress over the two matches.

 

There is no place for Gary Cahill nor Chris Smalling, but Southgate has handed Joe Hart a lifeline despite the fact the 30-year-old has dropped down the pecking order at West Ham this season.

 

Jack Wilshere will make his first appearance for England since Euro 2016 after rising to Southgate’s challenge of getting regular playing time in the Premier League for Arsenal.

 

 

Southgate has also included Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana in his 27-man squad, illustrating how central the 29-year-old is to his plans. He has only started three matches in all competitions for Liverpool in 2018.

 

Tottenham star Harry Kane has not been included after suffering ankle ligament damage last weekend that has ruled him out of action for the rest of the month. No player in Europe’s top five leagues has scored more goals than Kane (24) this season.

 

Full squad: Joe Hart, Jack Butland, Nick Pope, Jordan Pickford, Ryan Bertrand, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Joe Gomez, Eric Dier, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, James Tarkowski, Harry Maguire, Alfie Mawson, Lewis Cook, Dele Alli, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Jake Livermore, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Jamie Vardy, Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Marcus Rashford