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Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Mason Mount Earn Call-Ups in Latest England Squad
August 29, 2019
Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Chelsea's Mason Mount have both been rewarded for their fine starts to the season with call-ups to the England squad.
Manager Gareth Southgate named his squad for the upcoming UEFA European Championship 2020 qualifying matches with Bulgaria and Kosovo on Thursday:
As Scouted Football noted, the 25-man group is packed full of youngsters:
Scouted Football @ScoutedFtbl10 under-23 players in the England squad: ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Trent Alexander-Arnold ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Ben Chilwell ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Joe Gomez ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ James Maddison ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Mason Mount ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Marcus Rashford ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Declan Rice ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Jadon Sancho ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Aaron Wan-Bissaka ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Harry Winks Stacked. https://t.co/nn8aVDPAQA
It's the first time Wan-Bissaka has been named in the senior squad. Mount was called up in October for the UEFA Nations League matches with Croatia and Spain but is still waiting on his first cap.
Elsewhere, Liverpool's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is back in the group after his return to fitness. The biggest surprise name is arguably Tyrone Mings, who excelled for Aston Villa on loan from Bournemouth last season in the Championship before joining on a permanent move in the summer after the club's promotion.
When Villa parted with ยฃ27 million to bring Mings in, there were a lot of eyebrows raised. Bleacher Report's Sam Tighe is pleased he's showcased his quality:
The inclusion of Wan-Bissaka is warranted, as he's established himself as an elite Premier League defender. Southgate noted his inclusion means there was no room for more experienced right-backs Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker:
Mark Mann-Bryans @MarkyMBryanson Wan-Bissaka: "We tracked him very closely last year and thought he had an outstanding season but we wanted him to stay with the U21 group, he has adapted well and quickly to a high-profile move. We are looking at him and Trent, that is reason Kyle Walker is not with us."
Mount has also done well to make the cut in midfield, and his confidence will be sky-high after cementing his place in the Chelsea side.
The 20-year-old has been the biggest beneficiary of manager Frank Lampard's trust in youth, playing at the creative hub of the team and netting twice in his last two top-flight matches.ย
Liam Twomey of The Athletic noted that the playmaker has been on Southgate's radar for a while:
Like Mount, Mings spent last season on loan in the Championship, helping Villa earn promotion. He then completed a permanent switch to Villa Park and has adapted well in the Premier League.
After having his 2018-19 ruined by injury, Oxlade-Chamberlain will also be happy to be back on the international stage. It's been 18 months since he last got the nod from Southgate and he will hope to get minutes while with England to help rediscover match sharpness.
Following five goals in his first three Premier League matches for Manchester City, Raheem Sterling's inclusion was a certainty, as was that of skipper Harry Kane.
England started their qualifying campaign with comfortable wins over the Czech Republic and Montenegro, scoring five goals in each game. The Three Lions face Bulgaria at Wembley on Saturday, 7 September, before they meet Kosovo for the first time ever at senior level on Tuesday, 10 September.