Toney earns first England call-up as Henderson and Dier return

Ivan Toney has earned his first England call-up with Dean Henderson and Eric Dier recalled by Gareth Southgate for the Three Lions’ upcoming Nations League games.

Toney has been rewarded after excellent form for Brentford this season which has seen the striker score five times in his first six Premier League outings.

Tottenham defender Dier returns to the Three Lions squad for the first time in nearly two years, while Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw made the cut despite losing their first-team places under Erik ten Hag in recent weeks.

Jordan Pickford’s injury has opened the door for Henderson to return and stake his place for a spot at the World Cup.

Ben Chilwell provides another option at left-back, with the Chelsea man recovering from a long-term injury suffered last season but team-mate Conor Gallagher has been axed in a blow to his Qatar hopes.

Southgate was thought to be considering bringing Marcus Rashford back into the fold after his upturn in form but the forward misses out with a muscle injury.

Rashford’s Red Devils team-mate Jadon Sancho has also not done enough for a recall as West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen holds onto his place.

Selected stars will be desperate to impress the England boss, with it being the penultimate squad before the Qatar World Cup.

They travel to face their Euro 2020 final opponents Italy at the San Siro on September 23 before hosting Germany at Wembley on September 26.

The Three Lions currently sit bottom of Nations League Group A3 after a disastrous campaign which has seen them pick up only two points.

England squad in full

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Nottingham Forest), Nick Pope (Newcastle), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Conor Coady (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Reece James (Chelsea), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (West Ham), James Ward-Prowse (Southampton)

Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Roma), Jarrod Bowen (West Ham), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Ivan Toney (Brentford)