Eberechi Eze has been called up to the England squad for the first time for next month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers, but Raheem Sterling has been left out.

Chelsea star Sterling has missed one sentence after talks with boss Gareth Southgate.

England face Malta at Ta’Qali on 16 June, before playing North Macedonia at Old Trafford three days later.

The Three Lions top the Group C table after all conquering Italy and Ukraine in their opening two games in March.

Explaining the reasons for his decision to leave Sterling, Southgate said: “He’s not happy with his illness physically, carrying a hamstring problem. He wasn’t really thinking about it.

“They don’t think they’re working at the level they need to.”

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tyrone Mings and Lewis Dunk were also recalled.

Dunk, whose previous cap came against the USA in 2018, will return to the squad after helping Brighton qualify for Europe for the first time in the club’s history.

Chelsea trio Reece James, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell miss out through injury, while there is no place for Arsenal’s Ben White, Tottenham’s Eric Dier, Everton’s Conor Coady or AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori.

Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope has been ruled out as he needs surgery on a hand injury, while Crystal Palace’s Sam Johnstone has been recalled for the first time since March 2022 as his replacement.

Manchester City star John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips are included but join the squad late due to their Champions League final against Inter Milan on 10 June.

The same applies to West Ham captain Declan Rice, with the Hammers facing Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final on 7 June.

Southgate questions Toney’s restraints

Southgate questioned Ivan Toney’s performance ban for eight months for breaching the Football Association’s betting rules.

The Brentford striker, who made his debut for the Three Lions against Ukraine in March, cannot play again until January 2024 but is also unable to train with his club until September.

“What is difficult for me is that we have to look after people and he is injured right now. So what should he do to keep them fit?” Southgate said.

“How can we give him a plan over the next few months so that he can develop himself or become a better person at the end of the day or have experiences that he might not otherwise have?

“I don’t like the idea that we just leave someone out, that they’re not allowed to be in the football team. I don’t think that’s the way we should work.”

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Southgate added: “I’m not worried because I think he’s a strong, stable man. I think we have to think about that when we’re talking about the long-term from the game. As long as we’re there – how do we put things in place that give him order and allow him to come back healthy?” .”

Southgate said Toney would have been in the squad and it was “disappointing” that he was not selected.

He discussed it with Toney and this was established “to look to the future”.

“I think that’s the right way to be,” Southgate said. “We can’t do anything [about] what’s happened.

“From our point of view, we wanted to select him in March, so he was charged. We didn’t think it would be good not to select him, even though we knew something was happening behind him. The same when he is behind, you know if he is playing well, we will not hesitate to select him.”

Eze paid for the good looks

Eze, who has played for the U20s and U21s, has been called up after guiding Crystal Palace to the next level under manager Roy Hodgson, with the Eagles winning five and taking two of the nine games under the former England boss to end the scare. about relegation from the Premier League.

The 24-year-old, who is also eligible to play for Nigeria, was expected to be included in England’s 33-man provisional squad for Euro 2020 two years ago but suffered an Achilles injury on the day it was announced.

“We’ve loved him for a long time,” Southgate said. “He was very unlucky before the Euros. We invited him to the training camp and he got injured.

“He finished the season very strong, he can play in a number of positions across the front line. He has great skill and speed to get past players with the ability to dribble.”

Full-back Alexander-Arnold will return to the squad after impressing in Liverpool’s midfield in recent weeks, and Southgate is said to be likely to include him in the same squad.

“He’s a great footballer and he plays a little bit differently,” added Southgate. “He has always been in the leading areas with football, he is very close now. It is interesting for us and the decision is something that I have spoken to him in recent weeks. We are looking forward to working with Trent.”

Arsenal defender White missed out on an impressive campaign at right-back as the Gunners challenged for the Premier League title.

White was part of England’s World Cup but left during the competition for personal reasons and he was not part of the march.

“At the moment we have Trippier and Walker in the area,” Southgate told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“He’s had a great season, as has the whole Arsenal team, but he’s not ahead of these guys at the moment.”

‘Eze gives Southgate flexibility’

Analysis by Alex Howell, BBC Sport

Southgate has made some interesting calls for the current England squad. It is one that is a little unusual as the first game the players play will be 19 days after the end of the Premier League.

The big name missing is Sterling, but from Southgate’s comments and messages from Sterling’s camp it sounds like a mid-term decision as the player said he is not feeling well and is nursing a hamstring injury.

One of the notable names in the 25-man squad is Crystal Palace player Eze. He has been in excellent form since Hodgson’s return to the team and has registered 10 goals from midfield this season.

He provides versatility for Southgate and the England manager has mentioned his quality on the ball and the turn of pace he possesses.

It will be interesting to see where he fits in with the Three Lions as Southgate has said he can play in attacking positions, but he has been playing more deep in his squad.

Scorers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Protectors: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City ), ), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Middle players: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United)

Players: Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), James Maddison (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United)