England Bring Back Bukayo Saka But Jude Bellingham, Foden & Jack Grealish Miss Out

Bukayo Saka in action

The Arsenal forward has scored 12 goals in 44 appearances for the national team.

The national side have included the Arsenal winger for upcoming matches against Wales and Latvia, however no room for Bellingham, Phil Foden or Grealish.

Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka missed last month's qualifier victories over Serbia and Andorra due to a hamstring injury.

The 24-year-old made a comeback for Arsenal and found the net in their 2-0 win against the Greek side midweek.

The England international comes in for club colleague Madueke, who is sidelined until November because of a knee injury.

England face Wales in a friendly at Wembley this week before a World Cup qualifier in Riga on October 14.

If England win in Latvia, they will require a maximum of two points from their final two matches against Serbia and Albania in the next month to qualify for next summer's tournament in North America.

Bayer Leverkusen defender Quansah comes in for Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento, who is out for up to eight weeks after suffering a knee injury against Arsenal recently.

Elliot Anderson and Djed Spence, who received their maiden national team selections last month, keep their spots. Loftus-Cheek also keeps his spot, even with the recovery of Adam Wharton.

The attacker has only played a single match for Tuchel since taking over as national team boss, because of injury concerns.

Bellingham missed the last England international camp as he recovered from a shoulder operation and has only made a single start for Real Madrid after coming back from injury.

The Manchester City player was omitted from Tuchel's last England squad following a dip in performance and has been unsuccessful in returning, even with a impressive beginning to the campaign with Manchester City.

The forward also misses out in spite of a revival in form with Everton. The 30-year-old has not played for England since last year.

Full England Squad

Keepers: Henderson (Palace), Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (City)

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle), Guehi (Palace), James (the Blues), Ezri Konsa (Villa), Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Jarell Quansah (Leverkusen), Spence (Tottenham Hotspur), John Stones (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Milan), Rice (the Gunners), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Attackers: Bowen (West Ham United), Eze (the Gunners), Gordon (Newcastle United), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Rashford (Barca), Bukayo Saka (the Gunners), Watkins (Aston Villa)

'Attention turns to excluded players'

Thomas Tuchel's new selection brings scrutiny to the players the boss has omitted rather than the included names.

Jude Bellingham's exclusion may cause surprise but Tuchel believes there is no rush to recall the Madrid midfielder.

City’s Foden and loanee Grealish have both performed well at the start of the campaign.

The players the manager used in the team’s qualifying victories against Andorra and Serbia merit the reward of continuity.

It will bring regret that Arsenal's Madueke is not included due to injury.

The Forest player has looked right at home at international level.

Tuchel is a admirer of the attacker, especially, and also Foden.

One unexpected move, it is the exclusion of Crystal Palace midfielder Wharton.

Bellingham, naturally, will be required further down the line.

Bruce Hernandez PhD
Bruce Hernandez PhD

A passionate writer and tech enthusiast sharing insights on digital trends and creative living.