Gordon and Branthwaite get first England call-ups

were three of the most talked-about young players in English football last season. Branthwaite's excellent performance in defense for Carlisle United earned him a move to Premier League side Everton. Toney's impressive goal-scoring record with Peterborough United earned him a big-money move to Brentford. Meanwhile, Gordon's skills on the wing for Everton caught the attention of several top clubs. Overall, it's clear that these three players have bright futures ahead of them in the world of football.

Anthony Gordon and Jarrad Branthwaite have been selected to play for England for the very first time, while Ivan Toney has been asked to rejoin the team for upcoming games against Brazil and Belgium.

Gordon, who is 23 years old, has managed to score a total of 10 goals in different competitions while playing for Newcastle this season. Similarly, Branthwaite, aged 21 and a defender for Everton, has performed impressively despite the team's struggles.

Brentford's forward Toney, who is 28 years old, has made his debut appearance after finishing an eight-month suspension for violating the FA's gambling regulations back in January.

The 25-man squad has included Ezri Konsa, who is a defender for Aston Villa and has yet to receive an international cap.

On March 23rd and 26th, England is set to face Brazil and Belgium, respectively, at Wembley Stadium. These matches will serve as the team's last games before coach Gareth Southgate selects the players for the Euro 2024 tournament.

Joe Gomez, a defender who has not been featured in the England football team since 2020, has made it to the squad due to his impressive performances in various positions for Liverpool this season, from playing on the left, center, and right of defense.

Jordan Henderson, a former teammate at Liverpool who now plays for Ajax, has been included in the squad. However, Kalvin Phillips, who currently plays for West Ham on a loan from Manchester City, has not made the cut.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer is included, but Raheem Sterling from the same team has once again been excluded.

Three goalkeepers have been selected for the game: Sam Johnstone from Crystal Palace, Jordan Pickford from Everton, and Aaron Ramsdale from Arsenal.

The players who will defend the team are Jarrad Branthwaite from Everton, Ben Chilwell from Chelsea, Lewis Dunk from Brighton, Joe Gomez from Liverpool, Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa, Harry Maguire from Manchester United, John Stones from Manchester City, and Kyle Walker also from Manchester City.

The midfield players in the team are Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid, Conor Gallagher from Chelsea, Jordan Henderson representing Ajax, James Maddison from Tottenham, and Declan Rice linked to Arsenal.

Here are some of the skilled players from various English Premier League teams: Jarrod Bowen from West Ham, Phil Foden from Man City, Anthony Gordon from Newcastle, Harry Kane from Bayern Munich, Cole Palmer from Chelsea, Marcus Rashford from Man United, Bukayo Saka from Arsenal, Ivan Toney from Brentford, and Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa.

"Southgate Taken Aback By Branthwaite's Quick Ascent"

Branthwaite's performance for Everton has been exceptional this season, having scored two goals in 25 matches in the Premier League.

Southgate stated that they observed him as a substitute center-back for the under-21 team. If someone had told him a year ago that he would regularly compete in the Premier League, he would have been taken aback.

Sean Dyche deserves credit for being selected as the Everton manager based on his skills and abilities. We are eagerly anticipating observing his performance.

This season, Gomez has played in 24 matches for Liverpool. He was called upon to step into several positions due to injuries. Gomez is 26 years old.

"Joe is an amazing lad. I have been acquainted with him since he was at Charlton and the under-17s won in Malta. We thoroughly enjoy collaborating with him," expressed Southgate.

Phillips, who was a consistent member of Southgate's previous teams, has faced difficulty in maintaining good performance since becoming a part of West Ham.

Currently, I do not have faith in Kalvin's recent performances to carry out his potential duties on the field, according to the England manager.

He has reached the bottom point of his performance during the past few months. However, this could be an opportunity for him to express himself freely.

"He is aware of our perception towards him. His positive persona is valuable to our team. There aren't many players with similar traits."

At the same time, Southgate mentioned that midfielder Henderson has been selected for his "experience in winning and his mindset geared towards winning". Henderson has represented England 80 times in the past.

Southgate mentioned that although he is not a young Hendo, he can still have a significant impact on games. However, winning football games requires various qualities.

He really wants to stay involved, and from our perspective, he can still contribute in a meaningful way right now.

Southgate And White Have 'no Issue'

Last week, Southgate revealed that he received a call from Edu, the sporting director for Arsenal, informing him that defender Ben White declined to be considered for the selection.

During 2022, White withdrew from England's World Cup team due to personal reasons. According to reports, it was due to a disagreement with assistant coach Steve Holland.

Southgate stated that he had a conversation with him after the Qatar 2022 World Cup, but the other person didn't seem too eager to talk. Although, Southgate doesn't know the reason for it, he still acknowledges and respects their decision.

We have no problems with each other whatsoever, and there are no problems with Steve Holland either. I am unhappy about the mention of Steve Holland in various articles.

He could have been a part of our group, but he is not obtainable at the moment. Thus, I need to concentrate on identifying individuals who could assist us.

As the main football writer for BBC Sport, Phil McNulty covers some of the biggest stories in the sport and has a wealth of experience in the industry. His expertise and insight are highly valued by fans and colleagues alike.

The upcoming friendlies in Wembley will feature a noteworthy England squad, showcasing impressive new additions and a particularly notable omission.

Southgate has acknowledged that there is no justification for continuing to choose Kalvin Phillips. Despite Phillips being a frequently present member of the squad in recent years, Southgate showed immense faith in him. However, this trust went beyond what Phillips had been demonstrating at club level.

Phillips didn't get many opportunities to play for Manchester City, so he went on loan to West Ham United in January. The idea was to get him back in form and help him get ready for Euro 2024, but things haven't gone well at all.

In other places, some people are receiving good news as Southgate considers his choices and makes final decisions for his team's plans for the upcoming match against Germany in the summer.

Branthwaite has earned his first selection for the England team, which is a well-deserved recognition. Similarly, Gomez is another player who has rightfully earned his place in the team. He has shown incredible flexibility while also maintaining his performance consistently in Liverpool's attempt to win four trophies.

The big concern for England going into Euro 2024 is their central defence, which leaves a lot of room for improvement. This is why it's a great opportunity for Branthwaite and Gomez, as well as Aston Villa's Konsa, who is hoping to earn a full debut after consistent performances.

Southgate has displayed his unwavering trust in Henderson who is currently 33 years old. Henderson returned to Europe with Ajax after his unsuccessful stint with Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League, which received a lot of criticism.