Watkins and Bowen in England squad but Mount is overlooked
Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen have been rewarded for their impressive form with recalls to the England squad but Gareth Southgate has found no space for Raheem Sterling or Mason Mount.
The England manager’s squad for a friendly against Australia and Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy includes John Stones, who has not played since the Community Shield on 6 August because of injury.
The forward Callum Wilson and playmaker Eberechi Eze miss out because of injury, helping to clear a path for Watkins and Bowen. Southgate watched Watkins score a hat-trick for Aston Villa against Brighton last weekend. Bowen has scored five goals this season, including one in each of his past two games, against Liverpool and Sheffield United.
This is a rare occasion on which Mount has not been selected by Southgate when fit, though the midfielder only recently returned from injury for Manchester United. Bukayo Saka has been named in the squad but is an injury doubt and Southgate said the forward was still being assessed in advance of Arsenal’s game against Manchester City on Sunday.
There is no recognised left-back in the squad in the absence of the injured Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw. Kieran Trippier and Levi Colwill are options.
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