Southgate set to name three teenagers in next week's England squad
Gareth Southgate is reportedly set to name three teenagers in his first England squad following the World Cup ahead of the League of Nations double header with Spain and Switzerland next month, The Mirror reports.
The Three Lions boss is tipped to hand out a number of first call-ups to his senior side next week, with the likes of Leicester’s James Maddison, Wolves captain Conor Coady and Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson all under consideration.
However, the shock inclusions could be Manchester City’s Phil Foden and former clubfeet Jadon Sancho, who made the move to Borussia Dortmund this time last year.
18-year-old Foden started in the Community Shield win over Chelsea at the start of the month, laying on the assist for Sergio Aguero’s opener, but has played just eight minutes of the champions opening three league matches despite the absence of Kevin De Bruyne.
Sancho, meanwhile, was a second half substitute as Dortmund came from behind to avoid an early DFB Pokal exit against Greuther Fuerth last week and will be hoping to impress new manager Lucien Favre.
The 18-year-old enjoyed a strong end to the previous Bundesliga season under Peter Stoger, starting seven of 12 league appearances in total, scoring once and registering four assists.
Southgate is keen to integrate the pair that he considers to be the top young talent England has to offer early on in their careers to acclimatise them to the pressures of international football, having handed fellow teen Trent Alexander-Arnold a World Cup call-up at the end of last season.