England squad: Trippier, Watkins in; Sterling, Ward-Prowse missing

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England manager Gareth Southgate has included Newcastle defender Kieran Trippier and Aston Villa hitman Ollie Watkins in the Three Lions squad for this month’s games against Australia and Italy at Wembley.

Also in the squad is West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen and Chelsea defender Levi Colwill. Bowen returns after he was left out of September’s games against Ukraine and Scotland.

Trippier has been one of the best defenders in the Premier League this season. He has contributed tremendously both in defence and attack for the Magpies this term.

Ollie Watkins has been on fire

Watkins has also been one of the standout performers in the Premier League season. Few days ago, he scored his second hattrick of the season in Villa’s 6-1 bashing of Brighton.

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With that performance, he became the first player to score two hat-tricks in a single season in all competitions for Aston Villa since Andy Gray in 1976-77.

Meanwhile, Chelsea forward Raheem Sterling and West Ham United dead ball specialist James Ward-Prowse are not included. In fact, Sterling has now been left out of a fourth consecutive squad list.

Injured Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka will be assessed as Southgate described the 22-year-old’s muscular problem “a worry.”

England are six points clear at the top of Group C of Euro 2024 qualifiers, although they have played one more game than second-placed Italy.

Southgate’s team beat Italy 2-1 in Naples in their opening qualifying match in March.

England face Australia in a friendly on 13 October and Italy in a Euro 2024 qualifier on 17 October.

Full England squad:

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale

Defenders: Levi Colwill, Lewis Dunk, Marc Guehi, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice

Forwards: Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Eddie Nketiah, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Ollie Watkins.