Saudi Arabia-based Toney earns England recall as Foden misses out

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Ivan Toney in Al-Ahli trainingImage source, Getty Images

Image caption,

Ivan Toney joined Al-Ahli from Brentford in 2024 for a fee of £40m

Former Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been recalled to England's squad for next month's matches against Andorra and Senegal.

It is a first call-up for the 29-year-old since he moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli from the Bees last summer.

He made the last of his six England appearances in the Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain.

But 28 goals in 42 appearances for Al-Ahli this season has convinced England head coach Thomas Tuchel to have a closer look at the striker, having left him out of his first squad in March.

England face Andorra in a World Cup qualifier on 7 June, before welcoming Senegal to Nottingham Forest's City Ground for a friendly on 10 June.

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham has also been selected, despite the midfielder's upcoming shoulder surgery.

The 21-year-old is set to have an operation following the Club World Cup - which starts on 15 June and follows England's matches - to resolve a long-term shoulder issue that has troubled him since 2023.

Tuchel has selected a number of players competing in the Club World Cup, including captain and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, Chelsea's Cole Palmer and Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is a notable absentee, while there are no representatives from Manchester United.

Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has received his first senior call-up.

Full England squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Burnley)

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Dan Burn (Newcastle), Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Kyle Walker (AC Milan, on loan from Manchester City)

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Conor Gallagher (Atletico Madrid), Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest), Jordan Henderson (Ajax), Curtis Jones (Liverpool), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

Who is missing?

There is no place for Manchester City's Foden, who said this week that his form this season has suffered because of off-field issues and an ankle injury.

Marcus Rashford, on loan at Aston Villa from Manchester United, misses out after suffering a season-ending hamstring injury.

His omission means there is not a single representative from Manchester United in the squad, with Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo and Harry Maguire also missing out.

West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen is a notable absentee, while Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton has also been left out.

Team-mate Marc Guehi, who was a starter at Euro 2024, misses out due to the eye injury he suffered in Palace's FA Cup final win against Manchester City last week.

BBC Sport can reveal that Tuchel phoned Guehi on Thursday to explain that he didn't want to risk re-injuring his eye.

Tuchel made clear to the Crystal Palace captain that he remains vital to his plans but felt he needed to focus on recovering from the eye issue.

Guehi spent Saturday night in hospital with a suspected fractured eye socket, though tests later confirmed he had escaped a crack and the injury was severe bruising.

Elsewhere, Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke, who was named in Tuchel's first squad, misses out, while in-form Newcastle winger Jacob Murphy has failed to earn a first call-up.

Tuchel picks eight Club World Cup-bound players

Despite pressure from clubs participating in next month's Club World Cup, Tuchel has stuck to his guns.

The German, hired on a remit to win the 2026 World Cup, stressed before his first match in charge that he only has a total of 60 days and 24 sessions with his squad before the tournament begins.

It was a clear message that the former Chelsea boss would not cave into pleas from clubs to rest or omit players.

Five Chelsea players - Madueke, Palmer, Colwill, Chalobah and James - have been selected and could play against Senegal on 10 June before Chelsea's first Club World Cup game in the United States on 16 June.

Asked about his players being called up before the squad announcement, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said there is a lack of care for players' welfare.

"It is not normal, it is not correct," said Maresca.

"I know people say they have money but it is not about money, it is about the health of the players. I don't think people pay attention to that."

Kane, 31, was always going to be selected given his role as captain, while Gallagher has had a good season in Spain.

But the selection of Bellingham could prove more controversial.

The midfielder has postponed surgery on his shoulder until after the Club World Cup, a decision that will see him miss at least the first six weeks of the 2025-26 season.

The former Birmingham City midfielder has made 52 appearances for Real Madrid this season and could play up to an extra seven matches at the Club World Cup should the La Liga side reach the final.

End of season timeline

  • 25 May: Final Premier League games

  • 28 May: Conference League final: Chelsea v Real Betis

  • 31 May: Champions League final: PSG v Inter Milan

  • 4-10 June: Six-day England camp including games on 7 June and 10 June

  • 11-28 June: U21 European Championship

  • 15 June -13 July: Club World Cup, including Manchester City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid, plus others

  • 15 June: Bayern play first Club World Cup game

  • 16 June: Chelsea play first game

  • 18 June: Man City & Real Madrid play first games

  • Mid-July: Pre-season matches begin, including overseas tours

  • 9 August: Community Shield

  • 13 August: Uefa Super Cup: Tottenham v Champions League winners

  • 16 August: Start of 2025-26 Premier League season

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