Gareth Southgate leaves four players including Chelsea and Liverpool stars out of squad to face Italy
Gareth Southgate has trimmed his squad to 23 players ahead of tonight’s Nations League clash against Italy.
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Ivan Toney, who earned his first call-up following his fine start to the season with Brentford, has been cut, along with Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell and Crystal Palace centre-half Marc Guehi.
John Stones, meanwhile, is suspended after he was sent off against Hungary during a shock 4-0 defeat back in June.
Henderson only joined up with the squad after recovering earlier than expected from a hamstring injury and joined up with his international teammates earlier this week with Jurgen Klopp’s blessing.
Chilwell, meanwhile, is still working his way back to full fitness having suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury this season.
Under-fire Manchester United captain Harry Magurie is in line to feature from the start, however, despite his demotion at club level.
After a series of indifferent performances, the £80million signing from Leicester has been usurped by new signing Lisandro Martinez who has formed an impressive partnership alongside Raphael Varane.
Defending his decision to stick with Maguire, Southgate said: ‘You always have to back your judgement and we feel he is an important player,’ said Southgate, who joked he was putting ‘whatever reputation I have’ on the line by picking Maguire.
‘If we thought there were experienced players ready to step in and play at a level above him there would be a different consideration and in some positions there would be a different level of competition in that way.
‘He is our most dominant aerial centre-back. Him and John [Stones] are incredible with the ball.’
Southgate, who was taunted with chants of ‘you’re