Chelsea superstar Raheem Sterling has been shockingly left out of Gareth Southgate’s latest 25-man England squad for their upcoming European Championships qualifying games against Malta and North Macedonia.
Since making his Three Lions debut in 2012, Sterling has established himself as one of England’s best attacking players. However, after a lacklustre season at Chelsea, he has failed to make the cut.
Instead, Southgate will look towards the likes of Eberechi Eze, James Maddison and Callum Wilson to provide the Three Lions’ goal scoring threat – as well as the usual suspects, such as Harry Kane, Jack Grealish and Bukayo Saka.
Who has made the final cut?
The full England squad is as follows [via England Football]: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Lewis Dunk (Brighton & Hove Albion), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City) Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham United) Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), James Maddison (Leicester City), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Callum Wilson (Newcastle United).
Which other Chelsea players have made the cut or been left out?
Despite the Blues’ poor form in the Premier League, not all of their players have been snubbed by Southgate. Conor Gallagher has made the cut – but he is the sole Chelsea representative in the squad.
Several other Chelsea players, such as Mason Mount and Reece James, have also missed out – but this is due to injury, rather than a lack of quality form.
The disinclusion will come as a disappointment to Sterling, who has been a mainstay of England’s setup since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.