Gareth Southgate insists there was no reason not to include Ivan Toney in his England squad, despite a potential ban hanging over the player’s head. The in-form Brentford striker is in Southgate’s first squad since the World Cup quarter-final exit to France in December for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Italy and Ukraine this month.
But Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling, who missed his side’s 3-1 win at Leicester at the weekend, is ruled out of the opening qualifying matches due to injury. Toney is still waiting for a Football Association verdict after being charged with 262 breaches of FA gambling rules, with a lengthy suspension possible.
He missed out for the tournament in Qatar - having been in the squad for Nations League games against Germany and Italy in September without playing. Toney’s inclusion means Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, with six goals in his last seven games, misses out.
Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker, being investigated by police after allegedly exposing himself in a bar, is included in the 25-man squad. Along with Sterling, Ben White, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady and Callum Wilson are absent having all gone to the World Cup.
Follow live updates as Gareth Southgate names his England squad .
