England: Sam Allardyce Names First Squad As Michail Antonio Earns Surprise Call-Up And Theo Walcott Returns

Chris Wright

28th, August 2016

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Michail Antonio has been rewarded for carrying on his decent club form into the new season with a surprise call-up to Sam Allardyce’s first squad as England manager ahead of the upcoming 2018 World Cup qualifier against Slovakia.

The West Ham winger, who has been filling in as an auxiliary right-back of late, has received his first ever international nod, with Theo Walcott also getting a recall.

Elsewhere, it’s pretty much business as usual…

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Man City), Tom Heaton (Burnley)

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Man City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Michail Antonio (West Ham), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Strikers: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)

No Mark Noble. Colour us shocked. Scott Dann should probably be in there too, but that’s a personal opinion.

It’s perhaps also worth noting that Wayne Rooney has been officially named as a midfielder. The grand delusion continues.