England squad: Jarrod Bowen and James Justin handed first call-ups for Nations League matches | Football News

Jarrod Bowen and James Justin have been handed their first call-ups to the England squad ahead of next month’s Nations League matches.

Bowen is included for the first time after scoring 18 goals and assisting another 13 as he helped West Ham to seventh in the Premier League and the Europa League semi-finals, while Justin is named after returning from a serious knee injury to feature regularly for Leicester in 2022.

The 24-year-old can play on either side of the defence, with his versatility likely to be a useful asset in a squad featuring no left-backs.

Bowen and Justin are two of a number of players picked by Gareth Southgate for the fixtures against Hungary, Germany and Italy who were not in the most recent squad in March.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker all return, meaning there are five right-backs in the squad.

Fikayo Tomori has been recalled after winning the Serie A title with AC Milan, while Tammy Abraham is also included after helping Roma to Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final.

John Stones, Aaron Ramsdale, Kalvin Phillips and Bukayo Saka also return after not featuring in the wins over Switzerland and Ivory Coast two months ago.

There is no place in the squad for Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who has been playing regularly for the club and is preparing for Saturday’s Champions League final against Real Madrid.

Aston Villa duo Tyrone Mings and Ollie Watkins have also been left out, as has Emile Smith Rowe. Luke Shaw also fails to make the squad after missing the end of the season through injury.

Tyrick Mitchell and Kyle Walker-Peters have not retained their places after making their senior international debuts in March, while Fraser Forster, who was handed his first England call-up for five years in the previous international break, is also left out.

Marc Guehi, who also made his debut in March, is retained, as is midfielder Conor Gallagher, who impressed alongside the centre-back for Crystal Palace this season.

Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have missed out following Manchester United’s poor season. It is the third squad in a row that Sancho has not been a part of, while Rashford has clearly not done enough to impress Southgate, who admitted the forward was “not at his best” following his omission in March.

Ben Chilwell has not been recalled following his return from a serious knee injury, meaning there are no left-backs in the 27-man squad.

England will play four Nations League fixtures next month, starting with a trip to Budapest to play Hungary on June 4. Southgate’s squad will then travel to Munich to play Germany on June 7, before hosting Italy on June 11 and Hungary on June 14, with both matches taking place at Molineux.

England squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale.

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, James Justin, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Tripper, Kyle Walker, Ben White.

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse.

Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling.