Nathan Redmond, Harry Kane and Harry Winks named in England squad for Nations League finals

Nathan Redmond
Nathan Redmond has played once for England in March 2017 Credit: pa

Southampton's Nathan Redmond is the surprise name in England manager Gareth Southgate's initial squad for the Nations League finals.

The Three Lions boss named a 27-man group ahead of this summer's inaugural finals in Portugal, although he will need to cut the group down to 23 by May 27.

Unsurprisingly there are no uncapped players in Southgate's selection, but there is a shock call-up for Redmond.

Overlooked since winning his one and only England cap in March 2017, the 25-year-old was named Southampton's player of the year after a fine campaign.

England captain Harry Kane has been selected by Southgate despite an ankle ligament injury, while Harry Winks has also got the nod after groin surgery.

There is no place for Ruben Loftus-Cheek after sustaining a nasty-looking ankle injury playing in a friendly for Chelsea on Wednesday, while fellow midfielders Declan Rice and James Ward-Prowse are involved again.

Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate is hoping to guide England to a rare major trophy Credit: reuters

Jesse Lingard and Joe Gomez return to the squad, while Luke Shaw and James Tarkowski are left out.

Southgate believes Redmond deserved his return to the England fold after the winger scored nine goals in the second half of the season.

"I think he finished the season really well," said Southgate. "I think the new manager has had a positive effect: a lot of pace, playing the high press and has started to score more regularly. It is a really good opportunity for Nathan."

Southgate also explained his reasons for including Kane and Winks, despite the Tottenham duo currently being sidelined by injury.

"For the likes of Harry Winks, he deserves to named in the initial squad. It is a case that he hasn't played for a couple of months so we will have to see," Southgate said.

Harry Kane is hoping to be fit for the Champions League final and England duty
Harry Kane is hoping to be fit for the Champions League final and England duty Credit: getty images

"That's (Kane's fitness) one of the unknowns. He's working to be fit for the (Champions League) final. We are keeping that door open. We are going to look post-Champions League final. There is the physical aspect and emotional aspect of that final that we have to look at.

"I don't think we have had a time where we haven't had a lot of pullouts but we have a really strong squad. We will know more by that date (May 27) but we can make changes after that date."

Southgate was positive in how the impact of his players featuring in the Champions League and Europa League finals can have on his team in the future.

He said: "In the long-term for England, it's brilliant. All of these experiences are what this team hasn't had before.

"It's been an incredible couple of weeks for English football and we are looking forward to continuing that."

The exclusion of Manchester United left-back Shaw raised a few eyebrows.

But when asked if it was a tough choice, Southgate said: "No. Ben Chilwell and Danny Rose have been excellent for us so they are ahead in the pecking order. But it gives us a lot of good options."

The England manager also added that Chelsea pair Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi would have been selected if they were fit.

                                                                                                    

The Cheek of it

Southgate was asked about Ruben Loftus-Cheek Ruben, who has not made the squad - and will miss the Europa League final - after injuring his ankle in a charity friendly for Chelsea (Read that story here)

I went to bed last night and Ruben was in the squad and playing brilliantly, now he misses a major European final – I am really disappointed for him in particular.

Are you Shaw?

Full England squad

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Chelsea), Jack Butland (Stoke City), Ben Chilwell (Leicester City), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Michael Keane (Everton), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Nathan Redmond (Southampton), Declan Rice (West Ham United), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton), Callum Wilson (AFC Bournemouth), Harry Winks (Tottenham Hotspur).

Redmond in

A bit of a surprise to see Southampton's Nathan Redmond included in a 27-man group. Overlooked since winning his only England cap in March 2017, Redmond was named Southampton player of the year for the campaign that has just finished.

Harry Kane is also back, as is Spurs team-mate Harry Winks after groin surgery. There is no place for Ruben Loftus-Cheek after suffering an ankle injury playing in a friendly for Chelsea on Wednesday, but fellow midfielders Declan Rice and James Ward-Prowse are included.

Jesse Lingard and Joe Gomez are in, while Luke Shaw and James Tarkowski are out.

Here's your squad

Pre-squad reading

You can be forgiven for not quite remembering what this competition is about. It was all the rage six months ago, but recent Champions League and Europa League storylines have somewhat overshadowed international issues. So, let's have a quick reminder courtesy of Alan Tyers on "A fresh, fun new competition for a fresh, fun new England". Here's a snippet:

The Nations League has achieved the seemingly impossible by making international football outside tournament qualification matter.

For so many years international friendlies have been annoying breaks in the real football calendar, watching England use 27 outfield players as they blunder through a deflating 2-0 win over Molvania, Sven or Fabio standing impassively on the touchline gazing into the middle distance and thinking what to do with his investment portfolio as England’s third string hoof the ball to nobody in particular.

More confusion

Not only will too many players be named today, but Southgate will not have all of them available to him when the squad first convenes at St George's Park on Tuesday.

Anyone who plays for Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea will not be there because of Champions League/Europa League final preparations, while Manchester City's players will be given time off after the FA Cup final, before a second training camp starts the following week.

That also applies to Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho, with the Germany season not yet finished.

Kane-d?

So it's going to be a bit of a strange one today with few shocks expected and pretty much all of the big names included in an extended squad.

Regardless of how many people he selects today, Southgate then must submit a 23-man squad to Uefa by Monday May 27 – before the European finals – but he is allowed to replace players who drop out through injury.

One of the names will be Harry Kane, who had been expected to miss these matches but appears to have - yet again - recovered from injury ahead of schedule. Here is the most physical exertion we have seen from him in a while:

England squad announcement

Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of Gareth Southgate's squad announcement as the England manager aims to guide the national side to a first senior major trophy since winning the World Cup in 1966.

Today's squad will feature the players who will line up against Holland in the Nations League semi-final on June 6 and then either the final or third-place play-off on June 9. Here are some things you need to know:

  • Southgate will name a bigger squad than usual. He is likely to select at least 28 players, in the knowledge that some will drop out with four English teams featuring in the two European finals.
  • No uncapped or unexpected call-ups will be made.
  • Harry Kane's name will be on the list, despite the Spurs forward's current injury, as Southgate hopes he will recover in time to lead the line against Holland.

  • Southgate will not hinder Aidy Boothroyd's bid to win the Under-21 European Championships so has committed to not picking the likes of Crystal Palace’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Manchester City’s Phil Foden, Leicester City’s James Maddison or Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Let's see who makes the list.

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