England squad confirmed: Raheem Sterling dropped, Eberechi Eze earns first call-up as Ben White excluded again
Sterling has struggled with a dip in form and injuries since moving to Stamford Bridge last summer and was set to be left out for next month’s Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.
Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze has earned his first England call-up following a brilliant end to the season under Roy Hodgson.
There is also no place for Arsenal’s Ben White or Tottenham’s Eric Dier but Harry Maguire does get the call despite his struggles at Manchester United, along with returns for Brighton’s Lewis Dunk and Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings.
Eberechi Eze is playing the best football of his career
White left the England camp at the Qatar World Cup for personal reasons and was then left out of the squad to face Italy and Ukraine in March, but Southgate has said the door is still open for him at international level.
Callum Wilson has returned, after missing the last squad through injury, when Ivan Toney – now banned – was picked.
Southgate is thought to have held talks with Sterling over the decision to omit him. Sterling has been a senior player in the set-up under Southgate, who hopes the forward will benefit from a longer break this summer to properly recuperate.
Sterling has endured a disrupted year since his £50million move from Manchester City and recently admitted this season has been “one of the lowest points in my career”.
Raheem Sterling has endured a torrid season
/ Chelsea FC via Getty ImagesHe has had to deal with three changes of head coach at Chelsea and flew home from the World Cup after his house had been burgled, later returning to the tournament.
Sterling missed England matches against Italy and Ukraine in March because of injury, and he was set to be left out for games away to Malta on June 16 and at Old Trafford three days later against North Macedonia.
Injuries and Manchester City’s progress to the Champions League Final on June 10 have complicated Southgate’s plans for the games.
Chelsea trio Mason Mount, Reece James and Ben Chilwell are all unlikely to play again this season. Southgate is set to leave City’s England contingent of John Stones, Kyle Walker, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips out for the Malta game.
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