The England squad for next month’s double-bubble World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Lithuania has been announced and the big-ish news is that Fabian Delph has played his way to a well-earned recall.
The Man City man has found a new lease of life as an auxiliary utility midfielder-cum-full-back under Pep Guardiola this season, and has therefore been included in Gareth Southgate’s selection despite not featuring for the Three Lions since November of 2015.
There is also a recall for Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster, while Dele Alli is included despite the lingering possibility that he might be banned for both games if FIFA see fit to punish the Tottenham star for giving the referee/Kyle Walker (depending who you believe) a middle-finger salute during England’s last game against Slovakia.
The squad in full…
Here it is – the #ThreeLions squad for our last two @FIFAWorldCup qualifiers. 🦁
Find out more about who’s in: https://t.co/huntW8ptZv pic.twitter.com/ZKouegPKUX
— England (@England) September 28, 2017
England will play Slovenia at home next Thursday evening, before taking on Lithuania in Vilnius the following Sunday.
Two perfunctory 2-0 wins in quick succession, here we come!