Gareth Southgate keen to see what James Justin and Jarrod Bowen can offer

Gareth Southgate is looking forward to getting a closer look at Jarrod Bowen and James Justin ahead of the World Cup after including the uncapped pair in England’s Nations League squad.

This is an international year unlike any other given the impact of the winter tournament in Qatar, meaning June is the penultimate camp before the tournament gets under way in November.

It also means England are having to squeeze in four Nations League group matches in 11 days next month, with trips to Hungary and Germany followed by Molineux matches against Italy and Hungary.

Southgate has named an expanded 27-man squad as a result of that testing schedule, with the Three Lions boss handing in-form West Ham forward Bowen and versatile Leicester full-back Justin maiden call-ups.

“We were certainly thinking about involving him in March before he got injured,” he said of Bowen, who had a foot injury at that point.

“I think he’s a goal threat, he’s direct and his journey is really interesting in terms of the experiences he’s had – it’s a reminder that you don’t just have to be at an elite academy and come through that pathway.

“To play in the lower divisions and have that experience is also a great route to go.

“He works incredibly hard for the team, which we want all of our forward players to be able to do, so he’s thoroughly deserved this call-up.

“(Justin) is a player that we’ve followed for a long time and he obviously had a very serious injury and has now, we feel, played the number of matches (required after his anterior cruciate ligament injury).

“He’s comfortable playing left or right-back and very comfortable with the ball, super athlete, very good person – all my feedback on him from the under-21s and people who have worked with