Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has been dropped from Gareth Southgate’s England squad, while Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi has been handed his first senior call-up.
Fellow Red Devils attacker Jadon Sancho has also been omitted from the 25-man squad, having also been left out of Southgate’s last party in November 2021.
Rashford has endured an underwhelming season at Old Trafford, registering a paltry four goals and two assists in 19 Premier League appearances as his team fights for a top-four finish.
The 24-year-old’s frustrating campaign has led to suggestions he could leave Old Trafford, and he described himself as “upset” and “disappointed” after being heckled by his own fans following Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old defender Guehi could make his Three Lions debut in the Wembley friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast, having impressed for Patrick Viera’s Eagles this season.
Guehi has made 28 Premier League appearances since leaving Chelsea for Selhurst Park in July, with the Eagles keeping eight league clean sheets this term, a tally betted by just seven Premier League sides.
Congratulations to Marc Guéhi, who has received his first call up to the #ThreeLions squad! pic.twitter.com/6pAi6tMqMr
— England (@England) March 17, 2022
Guehi’s club-mate Conor Gallagher has retained his place in the squad, having made his England debut in a 10-0 win over San Marino in November, and Arsenal’s Ben White has been recalled in defence after helping the Gunners keep 12 clean sheets in an impressive Premier League campaign.
Along with Rashford and Sancho, Manchester City defender Kyle Walker is another big-name absence, with Southgate favouring Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James in his right-back position.
Alexander-Arnold and James have been two of the Premier League’s three most creative defenders this season, having recorded 11 and six assists so far this term, respectively (Liverpool’s Andrew Robertson has registered 10).
England host Switzerland on March 26 and Ivory Coast three days later, as the Euro 2020 runners-up ramp up their preparations for this year’s World Cup in Qatar.
Here it is… your #ThreeLions squad for March!
— England (@England) March 17, 2022
England squad: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Nick Pope (Burnley), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal); Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Conor Coady (Wolves), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Ben White (Arsenal); Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Declan Rice (West Ham United), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton); Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Emile Smith Rowe (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City); Tammy Abraham (Roma), Harry Kane (Tottenham).
