Luke Shaw earns England recall as Southgate hails fullback's 'edge'

Hamish Williams
Luke Shaw has been recalled by Gareth Southgate to the Three Lions squad
Luke Shaw has been recalled by Gareth Southgate to the Three Lions squad

Manchester United defender Luke Shaw has been handed an England recall.

The 23-year-old has not played for his country since a 1-0 defeat to Germany in 2017 but has returned at the expense of Old Trafford team-mate Ashley Young in the Three Lions’ first squad since the World Cup.

Uncapped Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is included with Burnley’s Nick Pope injured, while Joe Gomez and James Tarkowski also return for the Nations League game at Wembley against Spain on September 8 and friendly in Leicester with Switzerland three days later.

Shaw has impressed early in the season for United, including scoring his first ever senior goal in their season-opening win over Leicester.

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Manager Gareth Southgate said: “He has had a difficult period adapting to a new club, a horrendous injury, but he has had an extra edge to his game.

“When it’s been going against his team he has been one who has shown aggression and a desire not to lose.

“I’m really pleased for him that he looks like he’s playing with confidence.”

Southgate has also given Adam Lallana a recall after the Liverpool midfielder was left out of the World Cup squad following an injury-plagued campaign.

Jamie Vardy and Gary Cahill have effectively retired from international football – although are available in case of an injury crisis.

In Vardy’s absence Southgate named Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Danny Welbeck as the only strikers in the squad.

Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek keeps his place after impressing in Russia in the summer, despite playing just 22 minutes for Chelsea this season.

Southgate said: “We’re on the back of a successful tournament. Not too much can have changed in that time because we reached the semi-final and there has only been three league games.

“We had some mature conversations with Jamie Vardy, Gary Cahill and Ashley Young in terms of the desire to look at younger players.

“We had five changes anyway and we felt that was enough. We also won’t stand still.

“Luke Shaw is still only 23, Joe Gomez is 21 so we have lowered the age again. We are aware of the excitement around other young players but it might be a bit too early for some.”

Jordan Pickford (Everton), Jack Butland (Stoke), Alex McCarthy (Southampton), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Harry Maguire (Leicester), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), James Tarkowski (Burnley), Kieran Trippier (Tottenham), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Dele Alli (Tottenham), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal).

  • PA