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Nathaniel Chalobah and Harry Maguire named in 28-man England squad for World Cup qualifiers
Gareth Southgate has named Nathaniel Chalobah and Harry Maguire in his first England squad since Wayne Rooney announced his retirement from international football this week.
Southgate named a 28-man squad, including four goalkeepers and six strikers as he prepares for the two upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia at the start of September.
Chalobah and Maguire have both started the season well, after making summer moves to Watford and Leicester, respectively, and have been called up to the senior team for the first time. Southgate commended Chalobah for "his commitment to England". Chalobah was born in Sierra Leone but has represented England from Under-16 to Under-21 level.
Southgate called this "a good chance" to look at Maguire, who he claimed fits "the profile of an international defender."
Questions from the media were dominated by Rooney's decision to retire from international football, and Southgate paid tribute to England's record goal-scorer.
"We're good at judging our players harshly," Southgate said. "Wayne's done everything but win a trophy with England. By that token only the guys from 1966 can be elevated to that level.
"I've got huge respect for him. I was fortunate both to play with him and manage him.
"He's been a pleasure to work with and I'm sure there'll be a role for him to play in the future."
Southgate insisted no decision will be made immediately regarding the captaincy Rooney leaves behind.
"I won't rush it with the captaincy; we will spread it through the team for now, so it's important for others to take responsibility."
More from Gareth on Wazza
"We're good at judging our players harshly. Rooney's done everything but win a trophy with England. By that token only the guys from 1966 can be elevated to that level.
"I've got huge respect for him. I was fortunate to play with him and manage him.
"He's been a pleasure to work with and I'm sure there'll be a role for him to play in the future."
Southgate talks
On Wayne Rooney's decision:
"I called him to firm up the meeting and he said he appreciated me calling but he'd been thinking long and hard and was going to announce his international retirement.
"We talked for another 30 minutes and I totally understand his decision. He has a sense of loyalty to Everton and has a fresh opportunity there.
"I thought there was a role for him to play in the squad but I understand his decision.
"I'm not sure what else you have to do to become a legend. I congratulate him on a fantastic international career."
What about in goal?
A friend recently complained to me that England have "no good goalkeepersQ.
"No!" I corrected him, "England have loads of good goalkeepers, just no great ones."
Pickford, Hart, Heaton, Forster, Butland, Foster: that's lots of good goalies [yes, I know Foster retired from international football], but regardless, that's too many to fit into this squad. We'll soon discover who misses out.
The main talking point
In this Wayne Rooney-less world of international football, and with rumours that Southgate had called England's record goal-scorer to offer him a place in the upcoming squad, the manager has a decision to make in his attacking positions.
Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford will keep their places in the squad, but there are fitness concerns over Jamie Vardy and Jermaine Defoe, while Danny Welbeck is also in contention.
That does leave plenty of options, and fairly good ones at that, but you do have to wonder what Southgate had planned with Rooney involved.
Here we go again, then
Just when you think the Premier League has taken over your life, England are back! After this weekend's set of domestic fixtures and the closure of the transfer window, England will play two World Cup qualifiers - away to Malta and home to Slovakia. Gareth Southgate names his squad for those matches today; we expect to find it out at 2pm.