GARETH SOUTHGATE handed Glen Johnson a shock recall when he unveiled his first England squad.
New boss Southgate is preparing for Saturday’s home World Cup qualifier with Malta and a trip to Slovenia on Tuesday after Sam Allardyce’s sensational exit.
The big surprise was a recall for Stoke right-back Johnson whose previous game — his 54th cap — was in a 2-1 loss to Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Johnson, 32, has been brought back from the cold after Liverpool’s Nathaniel Clyne was ruled out with a knee problem, while his club-mate Adam Lallana has a groin injury.
Southgate has several other injury problems but Marcus Rashford returns to the senior squad, while Jesse Lingard also gets the nod. Arsenal’s Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are back, too.
Allardyce’s reign lasted just 67 days and Southgate has stepped up from the England Under-21s.
He will be hoping for a better performance than last month’s 1-0 win in Slovakia — Allardyce’s only game in charge — which needed an injury-time winner from Lallana.
Southgate said: “It’s been a difficult week but I’m looking forward to working with the players. It’s a great honour. I was conscious there was good continuity with myself and most of the players I’ve worked with or know.
“Some people are unavailable through injury, like Kane, Butland, we’ve lost Drinkwater, Lallana, Clyne over the weekend, Luke Shaw is not quite fully fit yet - so that’s had a bearing on the squad.”
As for Manchester United striker Rashford, Southgate wants him to take part in next year’s European Under-21 Championships in Poland.
The ex-Middlesbrough boss said: “We hope Marcus goes to that next summer — that would be great for his development.
“He’s in good form, so it’s good for him to be back with the seniors.”
Southgate will also be in charge for the November matches, a friendly with Spain and a World Cup qualifier at home to Scotland.
England squad to face Malta and Slovenia:
Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Torino, loan from Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley), Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Stoke City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Manchester City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Michail Antonio (West Ham United), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City)
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