England recalls impressive Tomori for W/Cup clash
Nigeria born England international FiKayo Tomori has been recalled to England squad ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Andora and Hungary respectively.
Tomori who made Three Lions debut alongside Tammy Abraham has been recalled by Coach Gareth Southgate as replacement for injured Harry Maguire who has been ruled out of the double header.
The former Chelsea ace has been in Super form for AC Milan since joining the Italian side.
Ollie Watkins is back in the squad in place of Patrick Bamford, who made his international debut last month.
England are set for two World Cup qualifiers away to Andorra on October 9 and at home to Hungary three days later.
United captain Maguire has a calf injury and went off midway through the second-half in their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa last Saturday. His manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he will be out for ‘a few weeks’.
Right-back Alexander-Arnold has a groin injury and didn’t travel with Liverpool to Porto for their Champions League match in midweek.
Chelsea wing-back James has an ankle injury and limped off during their 1-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend but is included for the international double-header.
Southgate had said prior to the squad announcement he would ease Liverpool centre-back Joe Gomez back into the international scene after he returned to action following 10 months out with a serious knee injury.
Maguire’s absence compounds Southgate’s central defensive issues with John Stones, another first choice, yet to play a single minute for Manchester City this season. But Stones does make the squad and could partner Tomori, Conor Coady or Tyrone Mings.
On Tomori, who has started the season impressively at AC Milan, Southgate said:
‘He’s playing at a club where there’s an expectation to win every week, so he’s performing under pressure.
‘I like Fikayo in terms of his aggressiveness as a defender. Because he’s got speed he’s confident enough to defend on the front foot and his use of the ball is improving all the time.’
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Leeds United forward Bamford was given a chance to impress in last month’s World Cup qualifiers against Hungary, Andorra and Poland but doesn’t make it this time with Watkins coming back in.
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale gets a call-up and Manchester City’s Phil Foden is back in after missing last month’s games through injury.