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England squad: Lee Carsley calls up Dominic Solanke, but leaves out Harry Maguire and overlooks James Maddison again | Football news

England squad: Lee Carsley calls up Dominic Solanke, but leaves out Harry Maguire and overlooks James Maddison again | Football news

Dominic Solanke has received his first England call-up in seven years, but Harry Maguire has been left out of the latest squad appointed by interim boss Lee Carsley.

Solanke, 27, has scored three goals in his past three games for Tottenham and will now get the chance to add to his only England cap, which he earned as a substitute against Brazil in a friendly in 2017 when the Three Lions took on against Greece and Finland this month in the Nations League.

Dominic Solanke has been one of the Premier League's top players since the start of last season
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Dominic Solanke has been one of the Premier League’s top players since the start of last season

However, Carsley – who will continue to oversee the national team while the FA decides on a permanent successor to Gareth Southgate – has left Manchester United centre-back Maguire out of his group. The defender missed United’s defeat to Tottenham on Sunday with an injury, but was part of the club’s traveling squad to play Porto in the Europa League on Thursday evening. ​

Harry Maguire played in England's victory over Ireland last month
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Harry Maguire played in England’s victory over Ireland last month

Maguire did play for Carsley in the Nations League campaign opener against Ireland last month, but Solanke’s Spurs teammate James Maddison has once again been overlooked by the interim boss.

Jarrod Bowen And Eberechi Eze – who appeared as a substitute in both matches last month – have been dropped, as has that Tino Livramentoof Judas Bellingham back in the fold after missing the September games with injury, such as it is Kyle Walker.

Morgan Rogerswho has made an impressive start to the season for Aston Villa, will once again feature in the U21 squad instead of the seniors.

England are currently second in their Nations League Group B2, level on points, with Greece having beaten Ireland and Finland in Carsley’s first two games.

England host Greece at Wembley on Thursday, October 10 before traveling to Finland on Sunday, October 13.

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Paul Merson says Lee Carsley should lose England job and believes he is good enough to take national team forward

Full squad of England’s Nations League squad for October

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Nick Pope (Newcastle).

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), John Stones (Man City), Rico Lewis (Man City), Kyle Walker (Man City).

Midfielders: Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid), Kobbie Mainoo (Man Utd), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottm Forest), Angel Gomes (Lille), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Phil Foden (Man City), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid).

Forward: Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Jack Grealish (Man City), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Dominic Solanke (Tottenham).

Maddison’s absence surprising after Spurs’ solid start

James Maddison's stats this season
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James Maddison’s stats this season

Sam Blitz from Sky Sports:

The usual annual James Maddison The cycle goes: start the season really well, get into the England squad, get injured or see a drop in form and then miss out on the Three Lions spot.

However, this year Maddison has started the season brilliantly for Tottenham and that is still not enough to get into Lee Carsley’s line-up.

The midfielder’s absence from this selection is particularly surprising Dominic Solanke is included in this English team.

The pair have been excellent together in the Spurs attack, but only one has made the cut. Is this the right decision?”

Seven years later, Solanke gets another shot in England

Sky Sports’ Peter Smith:

Seven years. It has been a long time coming Dominic Solanke to return to England, but the in-form Tottenham forward will get the chance to add to his only cap this month. And rightly so, given the former Chelsea and Liverpool striker’s performances for Bournemouth last season and in his first appearances for new club Spurs.

Solanke – who has three in three for his club – made his England debut as a substitute against Brazil in a friendly at Wembley in 2017. His aim is to play at the national stadium again next Thursday. However, there will be plenty of competition for playing time Harry Kane And Ollie Watkins also included…

‘Give Palmer the keys’

Sky Sports' Nick Wright picks his eleventh for England
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Sky Sports’ Nick Wright picks his eleventh for England

Sky Sports’ Nick Wright:

I completely agree with Jamie Carragher. Cole Palmer is too good not to start for England. With six goals and four assists in the Premier League this season, in addition to the 22 and 11 respectively he contributed last season, he continues to reach new heights.

Time to give him the keys and that means he will be at number 10. The 22-year-old is of course just as effective from the right. But Bukayo Saka’s quality and consistency make him unmistakable in my opinion. Therefore, it makes the most sense to have Palmer on the inside.

For this to work, some adjustment would be needed elsewhere. But I think it’s worth it. Jude Bellingham can dive deeper, in a box-to-box role alongside Declan Rice. Phil Foden, meanwhile, has to wait in the wings, with Anthony Gordon’s pace making him an invaluable outlet on the left flank.

England’s upcoming matches

England host Greece at Wembley on October 10 at 7.45pm. Lee Carselay’s men then travel to the Helsinki Olympic Stadium to take on Finland on October 13 at 5pm.