Ivan Toney called up by England as Arsenal and Liverpool aces miss out

Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been named in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the upcoming Euros qualifiers with Italy and Ukraine despite his betting probe. Toney received an England call-up in September but did not win a cap, and he was then left out of the World Cup squad.

He is awaiting the outcome of 262 alleged breaches of the FA’s betting rules – a proportion of which he has admitted to – which may lead to a ban but remains available for selection in the meantime.

Tomey’s 17-goal haul at Brentford has persuaded Southgate he is worthy of inclusion for next Thursday’s opener in Naples and the Wembley fixture against Ukraine which follows three days later despite the cloud hanging over him.

Southgate has also selected Manchester City defender Kyle Walker who is the subject of a police investigation.

Walker has been on the City bench since videos emerged online of the Manchester City defender allegedly exposing himself in a bar.

Raheem Sterling, who has struggled for form and fitness at Chelsea, has been omitted as has Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Chelsea full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell are back after missing the World Cup through injury.

There is no place in the 25-man squad for Arsenal’s Ben White, who returned home early from Qatar.

He is one of five players from the World Cup squad who miss out along with Alexander-Arnold, Sterling, Callum Wilson and Conor Coady.

Kalvin Phillips, who has started only two games all season at Manchester City, has clung onto his place.

Southgate has predictably stayed loyal to Harry Maguire, who has started only ten games all season for Manchester United but Jadon Sancho, who has returned to favour at Old Trafford, has been unable to force his way back in.

England squad: Pickford, Pope, Ramsdale, Chilwell, Dier, Guehi, James, Maguire, Shaw, Stones, Trippier, Walker, Bellingham, Gallagher, Henderson, Maddison, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Foden, Grealish, Kane, Rashford, Saka, Toney.