Gareth Southgate wielded the axe through his England squad - and warned nobody is safe.

England boss Southgate dumped Daniel Sturridge, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jermain Defoe and Chris Smalling after breaking the bad news in a string of brutal phone calls.

Jake Livermore, Fraser Forster and Aaron Cresswell were also not picked as Southgate began his World Cup revolution by calling up youngsters for the friendlies with Germany and Brazil.

It was the most bold and brutal selection Southgate has made since he was put in charge just over a year ago - and he insisted more big names could follow ahead of Russia next summer.

Southgate said: “The speed of development of some of our young players and progress is eye-catching and I don't think anybody can sit and safely think they're going to be involved next summer.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has had a difficult start to life at Anfield (
Image:
REUTERS)
The winger moved to Liverpool from Arsenal over the summer (
Image:
John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“In every position on the field there's really strong competition. So whilst if I had to do it tomorrow I'd know who I'd take, over the next six months that could evolve drastically.”

Southgate was particularly cutting about Smalling after telling him he wants to play out from the back and said publicly he believes Eric Dier, Harry Maguire and John Stones are all better. Oxlade-Chamberlain was also left devastated.

There were call-ups for Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Tammy Abraham and Joe Gomez as Southgate went with youth as he also stuck with Harry Winks.

Video Loading

Southgate added: “The players we’ve brought in we want to see using the ball from the back and building up in a certain way.

poll loading

Is Southgate right to wield the axe?

“The players we are bringing in now - the likes of [Harry] Winks [of Tottenham], Gomez, Loftus-Cheek - they are comfortable with the ball.

“They are technically good footballers and we have got to be better in possession of the ball than we have in the last few games.”

England squad in full

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart, Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford

Defenders: Ryan Bertrand, Danny Rose, Gary Cahill, Phil Jones, Harry Maguire, John Stones, Joe Gomez, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier

Midfielders: Ashley Young, Eric Dier, Fabian Delph, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling, Harry Winks, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard

Strikers: Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane, Tammy Abraham, Jamie Vardy